Repeat Child Abuser Sentenced in Rochester-Area Case

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Stewartville man with a history of child abuse convictions was sentenced today for an incident earlier this year that resulted in his infant son suffering a broken leg.

Forty-three-year-old Jeffrey Michael Phillips was charged in late February with three felony offenses stemming from an investigation conducted by the Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office. The criminal complaint says the investigation was launched on February 6 after the mother of the 7-week-old child brought the infant to a local medical provider for treatment.

Mother Retracted Story, Told Police Father Ordered Her to Lie

According to the court document, the mother told Rochester police that she tripped over a dog and fell down some stairs while holding the child but later contacted investigators and retracted her statement. The criminal complaint says she told investigators that the infant’s father had instructed her to lie.

Jeffrey Phillips criminal complaint-Olmsted County Court

The charges state that Phillips eventually admitted the baby was injured while he was dressing him. The criminal complaint says Phillips told investigators that he used more force than he meant to because he was angry about the child causing a fuss.

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Phillips was charged with felony counts of third-degree assault, malicious punishment of a child, and domestic assault. He earlier entered into a plea agreement and admitted to the malicious punishment of a child charge in exchange for the dismissal of the other charges.

Pattanaphong Khuankaew

He was sentenced today to five years on probation with a stayed 21-month prison sentence that could be executed if he fails to successfully complete probation.

Prior Convictions Include Child Abuse and Domestic Assault

Phillips is currently on intensive supervised release for a 2022 conviction in Mower County involving the physical abuse of an 11-year-old boy. In that case, he was originally sentenced to probation but was found to be in violation after being charged in the Olmsted County case and was ordered to prison for several months.

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His criminal record also shows that Phillips was convicted of a gross misdemeanor domestic assault charge in 2022 stemming from allegations of physical abuse involving the same child in Mower County.

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Gallery Credit: Samm Adams