It took almost ten years and three trials, but the families of Robert Bass and Charod Houchins were finally able to speak out in a Franklin County courtroom on Tuesday.
On July 28, 2014, a shooting at a residence on the first block of Stevens Avenue in Franklinton claimed the lives of two young men, aged 22 and 21.
Sophia Childs, aged 41, was found guilty of two counts of murder for her involvement in the deaths of two men. She was charged and underwent three trials before being convicted by a jury in May.
Members of both men’s families spoke before Phipps imposed the sentence.
Judge Karen Held Phipps handed down the verdict on Tuesday, sentencing Childs to life imprisonment without the chance of parole for 21 years. This sentence will be served in addition to the six-year prison term Childs is currently serving on drug-related charges. Consequently, Childs will have to serve a total of 27 years before becoming eligible for parole.
According to Bass’s grandmother, Dorothy Johnson, she is involved in prison ministry and despite Childs showing no emotion during her trial, Johnson is still extending her prayers to Childs and her family.
According to Johnson, he has witnessed both regretful and unapologetic individuals throughout his career. He states, “When it comes to the situation with Robert and Charod, Ms. Childs shows no signs of remorse.”
During the hearing, the mothers of Houchins and Bass shared heartfelt words about their sons’ dedication to caring for them and their willingness to go above and beyond to improve their lives.
According to De’Juana Bass, the mother of Bass, she had been working on her statement for a decade, continuing to add to it after the preceding two trials. She criticized Childs for not showing any regret and allowing a minor dispute to cause two innocent individuals to suffer.
During the trials, it was revealed through testimony that Childs had been running a drug house near the Stevens Avenue residence where the shooting occurred. She had done so because she perceived it as competition.
Jason Manning, an Assistant Prosecutor in Franklin County, advocated for the highest sentence possible for Childs. He urged the judge to sentence Childs to life imprisonment without the chance of parole for 36 years.
According to Manning, the defendant exhibited a blatant disregard for the judicial process by fleeing during an ongoing trial. Manning further stated that the defendant was a well-known figure in the local community for her involvement in illegal activities. Despite being out on bail, she continued to operate drug houses, further demonstrating her lack of respect for the law.
According to Childs’ attorney, Mark Hunt, she firmly believes in her innocence and denies any involvement in the incident that occurred almost a decade ago. Despite not making any statements herself, Childs attended the hearing with her arms crossed and intends to challenge her conviction by filing an appeal.
Throughout her three trials, the jurors were presented with recorded phone conversations between Childs and her boyfriend, Roshawn Agee, who held a significant position within a local gang.
During a call that took place an hour before the shootings, Agee made a statement, “You know what I mean? For every action, there’s a reaction.” Additionally, Childs had a three-way call with an unidentified male, during which they discussed how carrying out a favor for Agee could earn the man a favorable position in Childs’ eyes.
Within an hour of the shooting incident, Childs expressed her desire to Agee on another recorded call, stating that she wished he could observe the news.
Childs had the opportunity to accept a plea deal before her third trial, which would have resulted in a 15-year prison sentence. However, she chose to decline this offer.
On Tuesday, Childs admitted her guilt to two felony failure to appear charges. These charges stem from her absence during the final day of a drug-related jury trial in September 2022. Childs was later apprehended by authorities, six months after the jury had found her guilty in absentia. It’s worth noting that she did not receive any further prison time for these charges.
Agee, Childs’ accomplice, is presently serving a life sentence with no chance of parole for 27 years.