Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 22, 2007 12:07:42 GMT -5
BELVIDERE - Almost seven years have passed since a Phillipsburg police officer was arrested on charges that he had sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl and engaged her in graphic conversations.
Officer Kevin M. Phillips -- initially charged with second-degree official misconduct, child endangerment and two counts of criminal sexual contact -- completed a pretrial program in 2004 and the charges were dismissed, records show. Phillips agreed to never seek a position in law-enforcement again.
But a civil lawsuit filed in 2005 is still active, and Superior Court Judge John J. Coyle Jr. is considering two defense motions in the case this week. Coyle will decide defense motions seeking to amend a response to the lawsuit and a defense effort to bring in another defendant.
The judge would not release the motions Wednesday.
The victim's civil action includes details about the alleged abuse. The suit alleges Phillips engaged in several improper behaviors with the child, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with her and used his authority as a police officer to gain her trust.
The town of Phillipsburg and the Phillipsburg Police Department are also named as defendants in the suit. The lawsuit claims that Phillips committed the allegations while on duty.
The impact of the allegations "caused extreme emotional trauma and difficulties so severe as to provoke suicidal ideations and suicidal attempts," according to the lawsuit prepared by Phillipsburg-area attorney Arthur J. Russo. The victim needed to stay in psychiatric units as a result of the alleged abuse.
Russo could not be reached for comment Tuesday or Wednesday. Efforts to reach Phillips were unsuccessful.
Phillips was hired by the Phillipsburg Police Department on March 23, 1999. The alleged abuse occurred between that date and May 2000.
His admission in April 2001 to the pretrial intervention program -- approved by the Warren County Prosecutor's Office -- required him to resign from the department immediately, criminal records show.
The pretrial program is similar to probation and requires participants to abide by specific conditions, which usually include periodic meetings with a probation officer.
A second teen came forward in 2000 alleging Phillips twice assaulted her while he was in uniform and on duty. The Phillipsburg girl, 17, said Phillips touched her inappropriately on two different occasions.
In that case, authorities charged Phillips with two counts each of official misconduct and fourth-degree molestation charges. His plea deal covered both cases.
www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-4/117212076984420.xml&coll=2
Officer Kevin M. Phillips -- initially charged with second-degree official misconduct, child endangerment and two counts of criminal sexual contact -- completed a pretrial program in 2004 and the charges were dismissed, records show. Phillips agreed to never seek a position in law-enforcement again.
But a civil lawsuit filed in 2005 is still active, and Superior Court Judge John J. Coyle Jr. is considering two defense motions in the case this week. Coyle will decide defense motions seeking to amend a response to the lawsuit and a defense effort to bring in another defendant.
The judge would not release the motions Wednesday.
The victim's civil action includes details about the alleged abuse. The suit alleges Phillips engaged in several improper behaviors with the child, engaged in sexually explicit conversations with her and used his authority as a police officer to gain her trust.
The town of Phillipsburg and the Phillipsburg Police Department are also named as defendants in the suit. The lawsuit claims that Phillips committed the allegations while on duty.
The impact of the allegations "caused extreme emotional trauma and difficulties so severe as to provoke suicidal ideations and suicidal attempts," according to the lawsuit prepared by Phillipsburg-area attorney Arthur J. Russo. The victim needed to stay in psychiatric units as a result of the alleged abuse.
Russo could not be reached for comment Tuesday or Wednesday. Efforts to reach Phillips were unsuccessful.
Phillips was hired by the Phillipsburg Police Department on March 23, 1999. The alleged abuse occurred between that date and May 2000.
His admission in April 2001 to the pretrial intervention program -- approved by the Warren County Prosecutor's Office -- required him to resign from the department immediately, criminal records show.
The pretrial program is similar to probation and requires participants to abide by specific conditions, which usually include periodic meetings with a probation officer.
A second teen came forward in 2000 alleging Phillips twice assaulted her while he was in uniform and on duty. The Phillipsburg girl, 17, said Phillips touched her inappropriately on two different occasions.
In that case, authorities charged Phillips with two counts each of official misconduct and fourth-degree molestation charges. His plea deal covered both cases.
www.pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/nj/index.ssf?/base/news-4/117212076984420.xml&coll=2