By Chris Cannon
Lebanon, Tenn.- A Wilson County Judicial Commissioner and his wife have been charged by police after failing to report that a child was being molested.
Givens Phillips and his wife Tonya Phillips were booked into the Wilson County Jail just before 5 p.m. Thursday.
"It's a one count indictment a piece, failure to report child sex abuse," according to attorney Alan Poindexter.
Police said that both were aware that a 6-year-old child was being sexually abused and both did not report the abuse to police.
The couple was the target of an investigation by the Tennessee Bureau Investigation.
"The Phillips' had been interviewed, voluntarily my understanding, and gave statements to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation who was investigating this, and contacted my and felt pretty confident that indictments would soon be coming out," Poindexter said.
Poindexter said both his clients will plead not guilty to the charges they face.
Givens Phillips has served as a Wilson County Judicial Commissioner.
His attorney said he will not be at work in the near future.
"Well, I don't want to speak as to what the county is doing. I spoke with Mr. Phillips this evening, it's my understanding he is taking vacation time," Poindexter said.
Both Givens and Tonya were booked into the Wilson County Jail Thursday afternoon and were released on their own recognizance after booking.
They were scheduled to be in court for arraignment on March 23, 2012.
email: ccannon@newschannel5.com
Givens Phillips
Tonya Phillips
