Phillips to Plead Not Guilty
By Hannah Schrodt
A former pastor convicted of sexual criminal abuse who is now accused of violating sex offender registry terms will be pleading not guilty to the felony charges against him. In Fulton County Court Wednesday, Jason Phillips, 41, of Glasford, waived his right to a preliminary hearing and said he plans on pleading not guilty to four counts of being present on the property of a child care facility. The charges are Class 4 felonies. Phillips is requesting a trial by jury, which is scheduled to begin Oct. 19. He has hired legal counsel. His pre-trial conference is scheduled for Oct. 5. Phillips was convicted of criminal sexual abuse of a then-minor in 2011 and sentenced to four years in prison. He was released from the Illinois Department of Correc-tions earlier this year. At Phillips's first court appearance last week, Assistant State's Attorney Phillip Money told the court witnesses had spotted Phillips at His Little Children Child Care Center in Canton picking up and dropping off two children at the business. A Canton Police Department report says Phillips allegedly had been at the facility a total of four times — the morning of July 31, the evening of Aug. 5 and the morning and evening of Aug. 6. During two of these times, the report states, Phillips had been spotted inside the building. Phillips was arrested by Canton officers on Aug. 6. Phillips had been on parole when he allegedly stepped onto the grounds of the child care facility, and Associate Judge Raymond A. Cavanaugh had noted at the last appearance that Phillips will most likely be transported back to prison. Phillips's bond is set at $40,000 with 10 percent to apply. As of Wednesday, he remains in custody at Fulton County Jail.
|
.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.