Harem strip club defendant sentenced for drug trafficking, sex charges

A 31-year-old Dayton woman who pleaded guilty to several felonies and two misdemeanors involving drug trafficking and sexual activity after a 9-month investigation of The Harem strip club was sentenced Tuesday to probation.

Samantha Childers received up to five years’ community control sanctions after pleading guilty to cocaine and heroin trafficking plus illegal sexual contact with patrons.

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Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Barbara Gorman — filling in for Judge Erik Blaine who decided the sentence — told Childers:

“Good luck, ma’am. You’re getting quite an opportunity from Judge Blaine here,” Gorman said. “Don’t mess it up.”

Gorman also ordered Childers to undergo intensive probation supervision, that she must attend and complete women’s therapeutic court, that she complete 40 hours of community service, obtain her GED, submit to a curfew, not work in any gentlemen’s club or as an exotic dancer, follow an employment program and not be where illegal drugs, stolen property or firearms are present.

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Gorman told Childers she must pay court and supervision costs, have no contact with her co-defendants, must abstain from alcohol and illegal drugs and to complete the MonDay program for drug treatment.

“The only reason I had these charges to begin with I was on drugs,” Childers said, saying she’s been locked up and off drugs for months, “and I am getting the treatment that I need.”

Childers had violated her intervention in lieu of conviction (ILC) in a 2016 possession of cocaine case and already had been ordered to MonDay for that.

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Gorman said Childers was on a “no-breaks status” and that any violation could lead to sanctions up to seven years in prison.

In a sentencing memorandum, Montgomery County prosecutors asked Blaine to impose a prison sentence, saying Childers “engaged in multiple sales of heroin, fentanyl and carfentanil to undercover agents from the Ohio Investigative Unit.”

The memo said during one arranged drug transaction, Childers had an infant child in the car with her. Wrote prosecutor Kelley Madzey, “Indeed, it appears her drug problem is the sale of drugs, rather than the use of them.”

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The prosecutor’s office also filed a civil case to shut the club down for a year and won.

Three other Harem defendants were scheduled to appear:

Aaron Crenshaw had a hearing continued until Jan. 9 and a jury trial scheduled for Feb. 12. His attorney said he may waive the jury and have a bench trial.

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Melvin Bibbs, who was declared not eligible for ILC, had a hearing continued for a week so his attorney could consider motions.

Samantha Clay's case was continued for one week.

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