A former police officer in suburban St. Louis faces up to 20 years in prison after pleading guilty to violating the rights of a woman he sexually assaulted during a traffic stop.
Joe Ernest Phillips is scheduled to be sentenced April 30. The 38-year-old ex-lawman pleaded guilty Tuesday to violating the federal civil rights of the woman he assaulted in July 2006 and to concealing evidence of the crime.
Prosecutors say Phillips, an auxiliary reserve officer in Velda City, stopped the driver and instructed her to follow him to an isolated parking lot where he sexually assaulted her.
Phillips also faces a $250,000 fine for destroying evidence.