SUMMERFIELD, N.C. – A former Penthouse model and her husband were arrested Tuesday at their Summerfield home and charged with prostitution.

Vice/narcotics officers with the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office and the Greensboro Police Department received a tip that 42-year-old Elaine Tipton was soliciting prostitution over the Internet and bringing customers to her home.

But the Tiptons' attorney insists that the charges stem from a misunderstanding.

Authorities discovered Elaine Tipton's page on Eros.com, an escort directory Web site.

Going under the alias "Deverie," the former Penthouse pet and adult film star lists everything from basic stats to how much she charges by the hour.

And that's why authorities showed up to Tipton's home, nestled in an upscale Summerfield neighborhood.

“Our undercover officer made contact with her through her Web site and then appointments were set up and he met with her," Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page said. "She was arrested shortly after he made contact with her."

Tipton was charged with soliciting prostitution and maintaining a place for prostitution. Her husband, 43-year-old William Tipton, was charged with maintaining a place for prostitution.

Arrest reports said he is a nurse at Moses Cone Hospital.

The two have a daughter who was not at home at the time of the arrest. She was taken to stay with relatives.

But the Tiptons' attorney, Locke Clifford, said the sheriff's office has it all wrong.

“There's been a misunderstanding here and that's what I do," Clifford said. "I represent the misunderstood."

Clifford said he is confident he can clear his clients of all charges.

“To suggest that a sexually oriented Web site equals the crime of prostitution is a real leap and I hope we can get that resolved," Clifford said.

Neighbors say they didn't know the Tiptons very well and were a family that kept to themselves.

But Page said prostitution activities could have put those neighbors at risk.

“You could be talking to a sexual offender, sexual predator, a pedophile -- you don't know," Page said.

The Tiptons' will appear in court on Sept. 9.

Vice/narcotics officers from the Rockingham County Sheriff’s Office and the Greensboro Police Department seized the Tiptons' computer and a number of documents from their home.

They say their investigation is still ongoing.