Samuel Scott Stimmel

Sam Stimmel, the owner of Stimmelator’s Gentlemen’s Club in North Webster, is now facing a total of four felony charges, according to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office.

Stimmel, 64, and four others, were arrested early this morning after a 3-month investigation by the Centralized Drug Enforcement of Kosciusko County. (See related)

Initially, police said Stimmel was charged with C felony corrupt business influence and C felony promoting prostitution. Now, his charges also include two D felony counts of dealing in a synthetic drug/lookalike substance.

Information filed in a probable cause affidavit indicates an undercover drug officer, on July 1, purchased “two reds” from Stimmel at California Dreamin’, 108 E. Washington St., next door to Stimmelators. The substances weighed approximately 8 grams total and were identified as synthetic drugs, also known loosely as “spice” and identified as “eggs.”

During the continued investigation, on Oct. 24, two undercover officers entered Stimmelator’s Gentlemen’s Club for a meeting with Stimmel. The meeting was to make a downpayment for  exotic dancers who were “hired” to perform at a bachelor party on Oct. 30. The officers also inquired about purchasing two white “eggs” for the party. The officers paid Stimmel $100 toward an agreed price of $60 for three packages of the synthetic drugs.

The officers were approached by Stimmel a short time later and led back to a private room at the club where he gave the undercover officers three packages of “White Rabbit,” each weighing approximately 4 grams. The officers inquired about “yellow pills” and were then handed another package labeled “Yolo.”

Police say California Dreamin averaged 20 to 25 customers per hour from June through October.

In Indiana, C felonies carry prison terms of 2 years to 8 years and D felonies are punishable from 6 months to 3 years.