Media — District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer announced today that Bryce Alexander Phillips, 21, of Scranton, has been convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual abuse of children, corruption of minors, all felonies, as well as the misdemeanor charge of impersonating an officer. He was sentenced today before the Honorable James Bradley to 36-75 months in a state correctional facility, with credit for time served, to be followed by nine years of probation.
“The sexual assault of a minor is both shocking and heartbreaking – but in this case it is made even worse when you consider that the defendant pretended to be a police officer in an attempt to intimidate his victims. Moreover, he exploited a contact made through a support group for LGTBQ adolescents to initiate contact with one of his victims. In sentencing the defendant to a substantial term in state prison I believe the court has brought justice for his victims,” said DA Stollsteimer.
On July 6, 2018 Officer Nicole Young of the Media Borough Police Department was dispatched to investigate a sexual assault complaint involving the defendant and a 15 year-old victim. The victim was thereafter interviewed at the Delaware County Children’s Advocacy Center. During the interview, the victim told Officer Young that she had met the defendant through a support group for LGBTQ adolescents. At meetings of the group, the defendant repeatedly represented himself to be a police officer. The victim and the defendant began to spend time together, both through the group and individually. However, in June 2018, the defendant had demanded oral sex and had threatened the victim with involuntary commitment if the victim did not comply. Due to the victim’s fear that the defendant was, indeed, a police officer, the victim stated that she felt forced to comply. The defendant continued to seek sexual favors from the victim after the incident. An investigation of the cell phone records of both the defendant and the victim confirmed the victim’s account of events.
On September 28, 2018, a referral was made to Childline regarding an allegation of sexual assault involving the defendant and a 15 year-old victim. The case was initially referred to the Narberth Police Department because one of the sexual assault occurred in Narberth Park. However, it was learned that additional incidents involving sexual assault by the defendant against the victim had occurred in Springfield Township, in Delaware County, and the matter was referred to Detective Mark Bucci of the County’s Criminal Investigations Division. The investigation revealed that the defendant had bullied, harassed and used physical intimidation to force the victim to have sexual intercourse with him. He had also attempted to threaten the victim by representing himself to be a police officer. A review of the both the defendant’s and the victim’s cell phone records confirmed the victim’s allegations.
On March 4, 2020, the defendant pled guilty to Sexual Abuse of Children, a felony, and the misdemeanor charges of Corruption of Minors and Impersonating a Public Servant. On that same date, the defendant had a bench trial before Judge Bradley on the charge of Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, and was found guilty.
DA Stollsteimer concluded by stating, “the facts of this case are horrible, but its resolution also demonstrates how collaboration across counties, organizations and departments can help us keep our children safe and ensure that justice is done. I want to thank Detective John Mick from the Lower Merion Police Department, Media Borough Police officer Nicole Young and Detective Mark Bucci for their work on this investigation. I also want to thank Danetta Green from Women Against Rape, as well as the staff at the Children’s Advocacy Center for their work with the victims. Finally, I want to thank Assistant District Attorney Danielle Gallaher of the Special Victims Unit in my office for her work in prosecuting this case.”
The District Attorney and the Criminal Investigations Division remind anyone in Delaware County who observes suspicious activity to call 911 immediately and provide the most specific and accurate details possible to assist law enforcement agencies investigating the call for service.
For press inquiries, please contact Margie McAboy, Public Information Officer, Delaware County District Attorney’s Office, 610-579-0429.