Grand Jury Indicts Former Godley Police Chief and Officers in Sweeping Prostitution and Public Corruption Case
A North Texas community is reeling after a Johnson County grand jury handed down indictments against six individuals, including a former police chief and two former law enforcement officers, in connection with what prosecutors are calling a deeply rooted criminal operation involving prostitution, racketeering, and the brazen abuse of public office.
,The grand jury indicted six people, including former Godley Police Chief Matthew Cantrell and two former officers, in connection with what prosecutors describe as a yearslong criminal enterprise centered on prostitution, racketeering, and public corruption., The indictments mark a significant escalation in a case that has shocked residents in and around the small Johnson County city of Godley, located southwest of Fort Worth in the heart of North Texas.
Johnson County and Somervell County District Attorney Timothy Good confirmed the indictments and made clear that authorities are far from finished with their work. ,The DA’s office stated that the arrest warrant affidavit has been sealed to prevent compromising the still ongoing investigation, adding that there is no anticipated date of conclusion, but that a comprehensive press statement will be released when more information can be shared without risk.,
The Charges Against the Former Chief
The most serious charges fall on former Police Chief Matthew Cantrell, who has now been arrested multiple times in connection with the widening probe. ,Cantrell was indicted on charges of organized criminal activity, promotion of prostitution, sexual assault, and stalking., ,Prosecutors expanded their allegations against Cantrell significantly, with the grand jury adding two counts of sexual assault and one count of stalking to the charges he already faced.,
,Cantrell’s bond was set at $500,000, and he was re-arrested on a Monday as the investigation entered its latest phase., This was not his first time behind bars in connection with this case. ,Cantrell had previously been charged with promoting prostitution and had bonded out of jail, before authorities brought him back in on new and more serious allegations.
A Web of Suspects and Serious Allegations
The indictments extend well beyond Cantrell. ,Ashley Ketcherside was indicted on racketeering and money laundering charges, while Michael Ketcherside was indicted on racketeering, money laundering, and promotion of prostitution charges., ,Former officer Jeremy Arbuthnot was indicted for organized criminal activity, and former officer Solomon Omotoya was indicted on charges related to organized criminal activity and solicitation of prostitution.,
,Prosecutors describe the alleged scheme as a years-long criminal enterprise run by Godley couple Ashley Villalobos Ketcherside, 41, and Michael Ketcherside, 52., ,Authorities say the couple allegedly ran a prostitution and racketeering operation that investigators describe as a pattern spanning nearly 10 years, including promoting and facilitating prostitution.,
,In April, Ashley and Michael Ketcherside were arrested after investigators alleged they operated a prostitution enterprise tied to former members of the Godley Police Department, including Cantrell and former officer Solomon Omotoya.,
,Arbuthnot was arrested on a Wednesday, adding to the growing list of suspects taken into custody, as the investigation continued to widen. ,Arbuthnot became the fifth suspect arrested in connection to the prostitution conspiracy case that allegedly has deep ties to the city’s police department.,
Abuse of Power: Intelligence Gathering on Officials
Perhaps the most alarming element of the case, beyond the prostitution charges themselves, is the allegation that members of the group weaponized law enforcement resources against political opponents and civic leaders.
,Authorities allege that Cantrell and the Ketchersides worked together beyond prostitution, including efforts to gather information on individuals they viewed as adversaries, among them members of the Godley City Council, the Godley ISD school board, the city’s former mayor, and a former police chief.,
,According to the affidavit, officer Omotoya claimed Cantrell and another former officer committed time fraud and fuel theft while working off-duty jobs, and that Cantrell used law enforcement resources to run background checks on local officials, including the mayor and members of the Godley City Council.,
,Arrest affidavits previously obtained by NBC 5 alleged the operation lasted nearly a decade and included efforts by members of the group to gather information on local officials and private citizens they viewed as adversaries.,
Additionally, ,investigators say they found evidence on Cantrell’s computer that he frequently solicited sex from several prostitutes online, including during the time he was an employee of the Godley Police Department.,
Evidence Seized, Investigation Rooted in Search Warrants
The investigation gained serious momentum earlier this year when authorities executed search warrants at the Ketcherside home. ,A search warrant was executed on March 31 at the couple’s Godley home, where authorities seized laptops, an iPad, a phone, and USB drives believed to contain evidence of the scheme., ,The devices contained evidence of a prostitution conspiracy involving the Ketchersides and numerous clients, and evidence showing the Ketchersides coordinated with then-Godley Police Chief Matthew Cantrell and other officers.,
,Cantrell and former Officer Solomon Omotoya had been indicted in late 2025 after the City of Godley found discrepancies in its fleet fuel card purchases. The Valley Mills City Council also fired Cantrell as its police chief in early 2025 after a council member flagged suspicious police department credit card charges.,
City and School District Respond
Local officials in Godley have moved to distance themselves from the scandal and express support for prosecutors. ,Godley Mayor Christopher Lenker and city officials said in a statement that they support the investigation, with the city applauding the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney’s Office for their work and pledging full cooperation.,
,Godley ISD also reiterated that Ashley Ketcherside was never employed by the district, stating that the individual referenced was never an employee and that she served briefly as a parent volunteer several years ago before being removed from that role after the district became aware of prior arrests.,
Investigation Remains Open and Active
District Attorney Timothy Good has been clear that Tuesday’s indictments do not represent the conclusion of the investigation. ,The investigation remains ongoing, with Good confirming additional arrests are expected as the case is jointly investigated by the Johnson and Somervell Counties District Attorney’s Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety.,
The case has sent shockwaves through Godley, a small community where residents placed their trust in the officers now accused of exploiting that trust for personal and criminal gain. What began as an inquiry into fuel card discrepancies has since unraveled into one of the most serious public corruption and organized crime cases to emerge from North Texas in recent years. As prosecutors continue to build their case behind sealed warrants, the community waits to learn whether more arrests are still to come.