Phillips, 19, faces sex charges with girl, 12
A local teen faces child rape charges after allegedly having sex with a 12-year-old girl during a party.
The defendant, Eric Phillips, 19, was indicted recently on the charge of child rape, a crime which carries a penalty of 15 to 25 years. He was picked up on the indictment late last week and is free on $50,000 bond.
The charge comes after Phillips and the girl engaged in what lawmen term consensual sex during a gathering at a mutual friend’s home this February. The girl reportedly began feeling bad about the situation days later and came forward with the allegation. Phillips denies the allegation.
While the contact was reportedly consensual on both parties, the law technically does not allow for a person under the age of 13 to “consent” to sexual relations with a person over the age of 13, thereby making such actions considered child rape. The consideration is made regardless of whether the other person is over 18 or not.
There have been cases here where persons under 18 have been charged with child rape. However, their cases are generally handled in juvenile court where punishments are much shorter.
If the victim is 13 to 17 and the perpetrator 18 or over, the crime becomes statutory rape which carries one to two years in jail, significantly less than the 15 to 25 Phillips faces. The girl turned 13 less than a month after the alleged incident.
Phillips entered a not guilty plea to the charges against him during arraignment Wednesday and was issued a Feb. 15 trial date. His next appearance date will be Aug. 24 at which time he must either enter a plea agreement or go ahead with his trial in February.