Couple Charged with Bringing Child to Prostitution Sting Waive Hearing

A Burgettstown couple with bringing a 6-year-old child to a prostitution bust have waived their rights to a preliminary hearing. 

Police said James Melvin Chappell, 48, and his fiance, Dafney Sienicki, 30, brought a 6-year-old with them Oct. 28 to an undisclosed township apartment complex where Moon Police were conducting an undercover prostitution sting. Officers from Cranberry Township, North Fayette and Pittsburgh also assisted in the bust.

Police detectives contacted individuals who were advertising sexual favors in exchange for money on websites including Backpages.com, Eros.com and AdultSearch.com and arranged to meet with them at the apartment. 

Chappell is charged with endangering the welfare of a child and two counts of criminal conspiracy. Police waived a felony promoting prostitution charge first filed against him. Sienicki is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, promoting prostitution, criminal conspiracy and prostitution. Drug possession charges against her have been waived 

The couple briefly appeared Tuesday in Coraopolis District Court with defense attorney R. Blaine Jones II, who said his clients were happy with the outcome of their court appearance. 

"We're very happy with it, yes," said Jones, who said Chappell and Sienicki are engaged to be married. 

The two are scheduled to appear in January in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. 

Eight others were charged with prostitution-related offences in connection to the Oct. 28 sting. 

Dozens have been this year with prostitution-related crimes during Moon Police prostitution stings, including former Pittsburgh narcotics detective Talib Ghafoor, 55, and his fiance, Sabina Earlene Sailer, 43, who are scheduled to appear next month in common pleas court.