Phillip Briggs is handcuffed after receiving a sentence of four years in prison Thursday in the Allen County Court of Common Pleas.
Jacob Espinosa
LIMA — Former Spencerville Mayor Phillip Briggs, 46, will serve a minimum of four years in prison following a sentencing hearing Thursday for crimes he committed against multiple teenage girls.
Allen County Judge Jeffrey Reed had previously found Briggs guilty in a hearing in September of a charge of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance to go with a previous guilty plea on a reduced charge of voyeurism in August.
“I don’t think anybody can disagree with how serious this is,” Reed said before handing down the sentence. “I understand the defense’s argument, but I don’t think community control would be accurate.”
The victims were in attendance at the hearing with family and one by one, read statements through tears, blaming Briggs for objectifying and traumatizing them.
Through most of the hearing, Briggs showed no emotion, reading a short statement.
“From the day of my arrest, I was upfront and honest,” he said. “I am ashamed of my actions and sorry for my actions.”
But Allen County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Joe Everhart painted a story of someone who was only concerned with himself from the start of the ordeal.
“The facts stand for themselves as to how disgusting and vile the offenses are, your honor,” Everhart said. “The state would argue that the remorse is not genuine and we would ask for six years in prison.”
Everhart also argued that the defense’s choice of expert consultant should be disregarded, but defense attorney Kenneth Rexford accused him of relying on an ad hominem attack to tear down Dr. Ronald DeLong’s credibility and pushed back on questioning the veracity of Briggs’ remorse.
“I think one thing should be known: my client made a confession before I was even in on the case,” he said as Everhart lightly scoffed at the notions. “We tried to avoid a jury trial, but the state wanted a trial. The case was dragged out because the state wanted to have a show.”
Reed, however, was unconvinced despite accepting the defense’s argument.
The minimum sentence of four years could be extended to six years, but is not mandatory. Reed added that Briggs would have the possibility of being released after six months served.
Whenever he is released, Briggs will have to register as a tier 2 sex offender for 25 years.
Allen County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Briggs Jan. 30 after receiving accusations that he recorded the two girls in various stages of undress, interviewing him and conducting search warrants at a home and on a laptop.
Reach Jacob Espinosa at 567-242-0399.
