On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, WAFF48 reported that Cullman attorney Randy Hames was on trial in federal court facing charges of human trafficking, soliciting prostitution, and attempted sexual extortion.
Hames owned Hames Marina and RV Park on Smith Lake in Cullman. He was previously arrested in 2018 by the Cullman County Sheriff’s Office following accusations from around 10 female tenants of unwanted sexual advances in exchange for lowered rent or living on his property.
This was not the first time Hames had faced similar charges. The federal trial began with prosecutors alleging that Hames violated the Fair Housing Act by subjecting tenants to a hostile living environment. They claimed he evicted some tenants who declined his sexual demands. A key witness, who lived on the property with her sister when she was 17 years old, testified that Hames brought her to a trailer to discuss renting her own home. She said he exposed himself and made unwanted sexual advances, from which she fled. Days later, she told the court she was evicted.
Prosecutors maintained Hames engaged in such behavior with approximately 10 other tenants from 2008 to 2018. They argued he primarily rented to women and girls under the age of 21 without formal leasing agreements. Hames’ defense lawyers disputed the prosecution’s assertions, arguing there was insufficient evidence to prove the claims. The trial continued with prosecutors seeking to demonstrate Hames used his control over housing to coerce and traffic vulnerable women and girls into unwanted sexual acts.
Source: Waff48
