Two men accused of exploiting an underage girl at Club Coffee, a Chattanooga nightclub, last year pleaded guilty to lesser charges Wednesday in Hamilton County Criminal Court.
Had a jury convicted Edward “Ace” Williams and Randolph Scott Jennings of the felony offense of especially aggravated exploitation of a minor, both could have received prison terms of eight to 30 years.
Instead, Mr. Williams, a convicted felon who was out on parole and working as a manager at Club Coffee, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor unlawful sale of alcohol, two counts of unlawful storage of alcohol and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Judge Don W. Poole sentenced Mr. Williams to 24 months at Silverdale Detention Center.
Mr. Jennings, a convicted felon on parole who was a bouncer at the club, pleaded guilty to misdemeanor resisting arrest and simple possession of marijuana. He will serve 18 months.
“We were pleasantly surprised” the prosecution dropped the exploitation charge, said Defense Attorney Robin Flores, who represented Mr. Williams.
Mr. Flores said his client, who has served time for armed robbery, accessory to attempted murder and weapon possession charges, could have received at least 20 years because of his criminal history had the charge not been dropped.
Assistant District Attorney Brian Chapuran said there were “evidentiary problems” surrounding the exploitation charge since the underage girl has returned to Florida.
The case unfolded last year during an undercover investigation at the 2905 Rossville Blvd. club where Mr. Williams was a manager.
During a police raid, officers found female dancers “in various stages of undress” and a full working bar, according to newspaper reports. One of the dancers was a 15-year-old runaway from Florida. In all, six adults and two minors were charged with various crimes including underage alcohol consumption and drug possession.
Club Coffee did not have a beer or liquor license, an adult ordinance license or any permits for adult entertainment.
It was later revealed that the parole officer assigned to watch over Mr. Williams and Mr. Jennings took their word about what was going on at the club instead of checking it out for herself. According to newspaper reports, the parole board re-arrested Mr. Williams and Mr. Jennings for parole violations as a result of the raid.
Both are scheduled for parole hearings for their previous convictions next month. Mr. Flores said their guilty pleas in the Club Coffee case negatively could affect the outcomes of those hearings.
FINDINGS OF THE CLUB COFFEE RAID
* Run by convicted felons
* No liquor license
* No adult ordinance license
* Alcohol served to minors
* One underage dancer
* $8,299 in cash seized
Source: Chattanooga Police Department
