By Kevin Sampier
Peoria Journal Star
June 3, 2010
http://www.pjstar.com/news/x1218689557/Canton-pastor-refutes-sex-abuse-allegations
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| Jason Phillips |
LEWISTOWN — Speaking out about the charges against him, Canton youth pastor Jason Phillips said Thursday the allegation that he sexually assaulted an underage girl from his church is false, and the church founder is backing him up.
"I'm very saddened by the false accusations," said Phillips, 36, who faces one felony count of criminal sexual assault in Fulton County Court. "These are false charges."
Phillips is a youth pastor and associate pastor at Covenant Community Fellowship Church in Canton.
The Rev. Kevin Van Tine, the church's founder and senior pastor, also spoke Thursday about the incident.
"We're saddened by the recent development," Van Tine said. "We believe these to be false accusations."
Phillips was arrested May 19 after a nine-day investigation by police, which included reviewing phone calls and text messages and conducting interviews.
Police said Phillips had sexual contact on several occasions with the girl, who is between the ages of 13 and 17, but said they did not have sexual intercourse.
The girl, who is involved with the church, told her parents about the alleged contact, and the parents contacted police.
"She's a friend of the family," Phillips said, before denying having any sexual contact with her.
Phillips was released from jail after posting $7,500 bond. He has since pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Aug. 2.
Several modifications were made to Phillips' bond Wednesday in court by Judge Ed Danner.
Phillips will be allowed to leave the state for vacation; he can have contact with the church to perform clerical services, but can't attend congregational gatherings; he can have no contact with anyone at the church younger than 18 without supervision; and he can have contact with his own minor children as long as an adult older than 25 who is aware of the charges is present.
Fulton County State's Attorney John Clark previously said Phillips was a "person in a position of authority" at the time of the alleged assault and had contact with the girl "through his work."
Clark declined to address Phillips' claims that the accusations are false.
"It's an ongoing case and I'm not going to try it in the newspapers," Clark said.
Kevin Sampier can be reached at 686-3114 or state@pjstar.com
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