No prison time yet for Harem raid defendants
Eight months after an 84-count indictment against 11 associated with The Harem strip club, none have been ordered to prison.
Eight months after an 84-count criminal indictment was handed down against 11 defendants associated with The Harem strip club, none have been ordered to prison, but the most serious offender hasn’t reached sentencing.
Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. was successful last fall in a civil challenge to shutter the business for a year by having it declared a nuisance after calling it a “sex and drug den.”
The Ohio Liquor Control Commission recently revoked the liquor permit of the Harrison Twp. business after a 2017 investigation and raid led to charges of illegal sex acts, felony drug trafficking and food stamp fraud.
But the criminal cases that have been completed largely have resulted in intervention in lieu of conviction (ILC) and probation.
Heck’s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.
A look at each of the defendants’ cases:
Samantha Clay: Clay, of Dayton, faced 33 counts, the most of any defendant. She entered guilty pleas on March 15 to one count of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, four counts of illegal sexual activity in a sexually oriented business, three counts of cocaine trafficking, seven counts of aggravated drug trafficking and two counts of illegal use of food stamps.
As part of a plea deal, 16 other counts were dismissed. Clay is scheduled to be sentenced June 12 in Judge Erik Blaine’s court.
Samantha Childers: Facing 15 counts similar to Clay, Childers, of Dayton, pleaded guilty to nine counts and had six counts dismissed in a plea deal. Assistant prosecutor Kelly Madzey asked for
prison time for Childers, but Blaine sentenced Childers to up to five years of community control.
Jennifer Rowland: Rowland, of Springfield, was granted probation in March after pleading guilty to one count of illegal sexual activity in a sexually oriented business and one count of marijuana trafficking.
Rowland was had a warrant for her arrest issued May 7 because she absconded on April 12. Rowland could face incarceration for her probation violation.
Kayla Olivia Hatton: Hatton, of Dayton, was granted ILC by Blaine over the objections of prosecutors, who noted, “She sold cocaine and marijuana to undercover Ohio Investigative Unit agents on three separate occasions.”
Anna Barnes: Like Hatton, Anna Barnes, of Middletown, was granted ILC while facing two counts each of marijuana trafficking and illegal sexual activity in a sexually oriented business.
Sarah Barnes: Charged with two counts for illegal sexual activity in a sexually oriented business and marijuana trafficking, Barnes, of Piqua, was granted ILC.
Melvin Bibbs: Facing four counts of trafficking in marijuana, Bibbs, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in March. Blaine sentenced Bibbs to up to five years of probation.
Vanessa (Schrider) Graham: Graham, of Englewood, was found guilty last month after a jury trial. For the convictions of two counts of illegal sexual activity in a sexually oriented business and one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs, Graham was sentenced to up to five years’ probation.
Ryan Perry: Perry, of Tipp City, pleaded guilty in April to one count of aggravated trafficking in drugs. He is scheduled to be sentenced June 12.
Ciera Chastain: Chastain, of Dayton, was granted ILC over the objection of prosecutors for three counts of illegal sexual activity in a sexually oriented business and one count of trafficking in cocaine
Aaron Crenshaw: Charged with seven counts including drug trafficking, engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity and illegal use of food stamps, Crenshaw, of Dayton, pleaded guilty in March. Two counts were dropped in a plea deal. Crenshaw received probation.