Defendant in ‘murder-for-hire’ plot wants passport for Danube cruise

One defendant in what federal prosecutors call a “murder-for-hire” conspiracy admitted to numerous bond violations related to drugs while another wants her passport so she can go on a European cruise.

Chance Deakin — the brother of Sterling Roberts, who is indicted for the death of Robert “Bobby” Caldwell — admitted Wednesday in Dayton’s U.S. District Court to 11 bond violations for drugs and curfew infractions.

U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Rose scheduled a hearing for June 21 to address Deakin’s possible sanctions. Deakin was indicted for aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm.

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Chandra Harmon — the mother of Tawnney Caldwell who, like Roberts, could face the death penalty if found guilty in Bobby Caldwell’s death — filed a motion to get her passport back so she can travel down the Danube River with a man who is not her co-defendant husband.

Chandra Harmon has been indicted for aiding and abetting in the tampering of a witness by intimidation. Harmon’s husband James was indicted for aiding and abetting a felon in possession of a firearm.

“The defendant has been provided the opportunity to travel for vacation purposes, to Hungary and Germany from August 2-11, 2019,” wrote Harmon’s attorney, Timothy Schneider. “The defendant has appeared for all court appearances and has given no indication that she would be a flight risk.”

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The motion indicates Chandra Harmon would be traveling with the owner of a local restaurant equipment company.

In an email response to trip organizers, the local business owner wrote: “I have also sent info on my guest Chandra Harmon and will have complete info this week. Please Chang [sic] our room from 2 singles to the one queen.”

The motion includes the day-by-day itinerary from Hungary to Slovakia, Austria and Germany aboard the Amadeus Brilliant ship.

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Assistant U.S. attorney Amy Smith opposed the request.

“(Harmon) was indicted on one count of aiding and abetting while using intimidation, threats, and corruptly persuading another person, or attempting to do so, and engaging in misleading conduct toward another person with the intent to influence, delay, and prevent the testimony of any person in an official proceeding with regard to evidence,” Smith wrote in a memo.

“Based upon the seriousness of the indicted offense and the fact she resides outside this judicial district together with the absence of any identifiable change in circumstance …” Smith wrote, “the government respectfully opposes the temporary return of (Harmon’s) passport and opposes any modification of the current bond conditions.”

Rose has not ruled on Harmon’s motion, according to the court docket.

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Deakin, who was booked into jail April 25, admitted to bond violations for using and testing positive for marijuana, amphetamine, methamphetamine, cocaine and other drugs along with curfew offenses.

In a January hearing after he admitted to using drugs at least twice before a traffic arrest in Dayton, Deakin told Rose: “You won’t hear another peep out of me” after the judge said, “You either need to comply or I need to do what I need to do.”

Rose said Wednesday Deakin appears to have a “real, real serious problem” with drugs.

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