Appeals court upholds first-degree human trafficking conviction in Coffee County

Attorney General Steve Marshall announces that the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has upheld the human-trafficking conviction of Andy Lamont Tinker, 39, of Enterprise. Tinker was convicted in Coffee County Circuit Court on Oct. 7, 2021, for first-degree human trafficking.

The evidence at trial showed that between May and August 2020, Tinker forced his victim to perform sexual acts on numerous occasions at an Enterprise hotel. The victim testified at trial that, if she refused to participate in the prostitution, she was beaten and/or drugged to facilitate the meetings.

At trial, Tinker contended that the victim was a “jobless, drug-addicted prostitute” who was not actually confined to a motel room. The jury rejected Tinker’s defense and found him guilty of first-degree human trafficking.

Coffee County District Attorney Tom Anderson’s office successfully prosecuted this case and obtained a guilty verdict. Tinker was sentenced to life imprisonment for his crime. Tinker sought to have his conviction reversed on appeal.

“Human trafficking is a serious crime and those who exploit their victims for personal gain will be held accountable under the law,” said Attorney General Marshall.

The Attorney General's Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm Tinker’s conviction. The Court did so in a decision issued Friday, Aug. 26.

Attorney General Marshall commended Assistant Attorney General Marc Starrett for his successful work on this case, and thanked Coffee County District Attorney Tom Anderson and his staff for their valuable assistance in defending the first-degree human trafficking conviction.