Michelle A. Stimmel
UPDATE: According to a probable cause affidavit provided by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office, on Aug. 14, the Warsaw Police Department received information that an individual was planning to purchase 30 methadone pills from Michelle Stimmel at Stimmelator’s Gentleman’s Club in North Webster. The business is owned by her father, Sam Stimmel, who was arrested last fall for similar charges. (See related)
Officers followed the individual to Stimmelator’s Gentleman’s Club in North Webster. Shortly thereafter, a female, identified by an officer as Michelle Stimmel, driving a red Chrysler PT Cruiser arrived at the club.
During the transaction, Sam Stimmel was recorded talking about synthetic drugs, including drug prices for synthetic drugs in Elkhart County.
Jason Richard Bontrager
Officers later determined that Sam Stimmel provides funding to Michelle Stimmel for the production of synthetic drugs. According to an anonymous source, Sam Stimmel provided money for the ingredients. Active ingredients for the synthetic drugs would be purchased and Michelle Stimmel would provide plant material and prepare the drugs for distribution. Allegedly, once the drugs were prepared, Kyle Dehart, Jason Bontrager and other individuals would distribute the drugs for profit.
The court document indicates Michelle Stimmel knowingly delivered between 5 and 10 grams of an “unadultered Schedule I or II substance within Kosciusko County.” The affidavit further states that, on the day of her arrest, Stimmel conspired to commit a Level 6 felony of dealing a synthetic drug weighing more than 5 grams.
On Aug. 28, officers received more information regarding a plan to distribute a new batch of synthetic drugs. A search warrant was obtained for Bontrager’s residence where a handgun and small amounts of synthetic drugs were discovered. Later, officers approached Dehart at the Taco Bell in Syracuse and observed Dehart trying to disassemble his cellphone, presumably to keep police from finding information stored on the device.
Michelle Stimmel, Bontrager and Dehart face charges of corrupt business influence and conspiring to deal synthetic drugs. Each are felony offenses. Michelle Stimmel is also charged with dealing a narcotic drug more than 5 grams, also a felony.
Additionally, Michelle Stimmel was arrested in Whitley County in July 2014 for manufacturing synthetic drugs.
At 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, Warsaw Police Department arrested Michelle A. Stimmel, 35, 6351 Jackson Street, Kimmel, Ind., on corrupt business influence, a Class C Felony.
Michelle Stimmel is the daughter of Sam Stimmel, owner of Stimmelator’s Gentlemen’s Club and California Dreamin’ in North Webster, who was arrested in October of last year, also on corrupt business influence and other charges.
The elder Stimmel was arrested after a three-month investigation by the Centralized Drug Enforcement of Kosciusko County that uncovered alleged corrupt business practices, promoting prostitution, and dealing synthetic drugs.
Michelle Stimmel is currently awaiting trial. Her bond is set at $4,000 surety.
Kyle David Dehart, 22, 11136 N. 450 East, Syracuse, and Jason Richard Bontrager, 36, 72833 CR 29, Syracuse, were also arrested for corrupt business influence and other charges. These arrests appear to be related.