EAST ST. LOUIS — The former owner of Club VIP was charged with three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a child in connection with juveniles being allowed to enter the nightclub where three people were shot to death in September.

Cedric N. Taylor of 4677 Blumberg Lane, Fairview Heights, was charged Wednesday and an arrest warrant was issued. He could not be reached for comment Thursday.

The charging document said that on Sept. 23 to Sept. 24, Taylor or employees under his direction, allowed three kids identified as R.T., D.C. and and D.F., all of whom are under 17, to be inside Club VIP past the city's curfew for minors.

The warrant said Taylor, as CEO/manager of Club VIP at 6830 State St., opened the business Sept. 23 to Sept. 24 between the hours of 9 p.m. and 2 a.m. The business previously was called Club Casino.

On Sept. 23, five people were shot outside the club, including three fatally. The club was operating as juice bar and was hosting an under-age party at the time.

Three days after the shooting, Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr. announced that a juvenile curfew that was already part of the city's ordinances would be enforced.

The curfew states that juveniles 17 and younger cannot be on the streets after 10 p.m.

Bail for Taylor was set by a St. Clair County judge at $5,000.

Mayor Alvin L. Parks Jr. said a curfew was put in place in September that made it illegal for anyone 17 and under to be on the streets after 10 p.m.

"It is a slight variation from the law on the books," Parks said. "The curfew was put in place to protect them from themselves and from people who would take advantage of them."

Parks said there some in the community using young people to sell drugs and perform other crimes.

Brendan Kelly, St. Clair County state's attorney, said, "The city is earnestly working to keep kids off the street at late hours to reduce violence and we're going to support them in that effort."

Contact reporter Carolyn P. Smith at 618-239-2503.