Transient arrested after allegedly touching a child with his penis

Lang
6/27/20

A local transient has been arrested after police say he touched a child with his penis.

55-year-old Earl Phillips was booked into the Johnson County Jail just after 1:45 Friday afternoon. According to arrest records, Iowa City Police responded to a residence on Fairchild Street on March 5th for possible child abuse reported by the child’s mother. The mother told investigators that Phillips had been staying with her and her child until she kicked him out the previous day. Once Phillips was gone, the child reportedly detailed sexual abuse at his hands. In an interview with police, the child spoke in detail about the abuse, including Phillips allegedly touching the child with his penis. Phillips denied the allegations.

Phillips is charged with Lascivious Acts – Touching Genitals to Any Part of a Child. If convicted, he faces a maximum of ten years in prison.