NC man gets probation, suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual battery
A Western North Carolina man received supervised probation and a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to two counts of sexual battery.
On Monday, Aug. 3, the Swain County Sheriff's Office said that William Timothy Phillips received supervised probation and a suspended sentence after pleading guilty in Swain County Superior Court to two counts of sexual battery (one count for each victim).
The sexual battery occurred on Feb. 1, 2017.
Superior Court Judge Tessa Sellers sentenced Phillips to 75 days in the custody of the Swain County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff's office said that the sentence was suspended and Phillips was placed on supervised probation for 24 months.
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We are told that Phillips received credit for 48 days already spent in jail. He was ordered to pay $688 in court costs.
As conditions of probation, Phillips was ordered to comply with the sex offender control program requirements and provide proof of a previous evaluation to his probation officer.
Phillips is now required to register as a sex offender for 30 years. The survivors were granted lifetime no-contact orders.
No other details have been released.
What is Sexual Battery?
Under North Carolina law, sexual battery is a Class A1 misdemeanor. Sexual battery is defined as intentional, non-penetrative sexual contact done for the purpose of sexual arousal either by force, against the victim's will, or when the victim is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated.
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