In a terse statement, the police department said the arrests represented 53 felonies and 149 misdemeanors, and that “Charges ranged from child sex trafficking, prostitution, pandering, luring a minor for sexual exploitation, attempted sexual conduct with a minor, possession of narcotic drugs and felony flight.”
One of those arrested was Richard Godsil, the football coach of Dobson High School in Mesa. Godsil was taken into custody by police, is being held on a $100,000 bond, and is facing felony charges of furnishing harmful items to minors and aggravated luring of a minor for sexual exploitation.
Hansen urges parents to have real conversations with their children about predators.
The arrest of an individual employed by the Mesa Public School system for six years—who had been in daily contact and interaction with young people in a position of trust—was concerning to Mesa parents who found little reassurance in district leaders’ statements that no local students were victims in the case.
Lisa Hansen, the CEO and founder of Power Over Predators and Mothers Against Child Exploitation, said these types of reports have increased across the state.
“It’s really hard to determine, especially in an in-person situation, when somebody is a predator because they’re so good at blending into their surroundings,” she said.
Hansen warned that predators lure children and teens into a situation where adults and minors should never be alone. By whatever means, they will gain a minor’s trust and convince them they are in a position to “help” get whatever it is the minor needs—whether money or adventure or “freedom” from what they might consider a stifling life at home.
Hansen urges parents to have real conversations with their children about predators and encourages kids to trust their instincts if they ever feel uncomfortable with another adult.
The operation was Scottsdale’s fourth in just over a year. The first, also a multi-agency operation, was a 12-day sting in January and February 2024 that resulted in 158 arrests with 37 felony charges. Conducted the following month with the Surprise Police, Operation March Sadness netted 42 arrests, including a registered sex offender. Last July, another 42 arrests were made—11 felonies and 31 misdemeanors including child sex trafficking, pandering, prostitution and drug possession.
At that time, Scottsdale PD Sergeant Andrew Parrott said, “It’s one of those things that I don’t think will ever stop, but I think us being able to put ourselves out there, make sure the community knows what we’re doing, will slow down and maybe push this to a different area.”
Unfortunately, there are no “different areas” to push human trafficking to. Human trafficking already exists in all 50 states and is one of the most profitable illegal industries in America, part of a worldwide $236 billion industry enslaving 27.6 million human beings.
Arizona, for its part, with 1,807 trafficked individuals from 2019 to 2023, is behind only 13 other states in their number of victims.
As Ms. Hansen points out, “Awareness is key and if you don’t know the signs, then you don’t know what trap you might be stepping into.”
