Family members including several grandchildren asked for leniency as a Mohave County Superior Court Judge sent a Bullhead City couple to prison on March 11. 61-year-old Dennis Childers and 52-year-old Julia Childers pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of attempted possession of dangerous drugs for sale for selling methamphetamine from their home on Los Flores Street.
It was noted during the sentencing hearings that Mr. Childers had been using meth for more than 40 years and his wife had used the drug for more than 25 years.
“This case is a classic example of what happens when people get addicted to methamphetamine and it just snowballs from there,” said defense attorney Dan Kaiser.
“I’m sorry for what I did. I won’t ever touch drugs again,” Mrs. Childers said. “One day away from my family is not worth it and I have been in (jail) for 195 days.”
Judge Rick Lambert imposed a three-year prison term for Mrs. Childers and five years for her husband. The Judge said that Mr. Childers was clearly more involved in acquiring and dealing the drugs.
9.5 ounces of methamphetamine was seized during a March 23 search of the Childers home.
“That’s a lot of meth,” Lambert told Mr. Childers. “You’ve been doing this a long time.”
Judge Lambert complimented those who spoke on behalf of the couple. He said it’s a shame that choices involving drugs separate the Childers from their loved ones.
“It’s the families who have to suffer because they haven’t done anything,” Lambert said. “They’re in as much if not more pain.”
