MAUMEE, Ohio — Jeannie Phillips started Justice for Lucas County Children of Sexual Assault because she wants people who have assaulted children to face the law.
"My own stepdaughter was assaulted," Phillips said.
And while she is still fighting for justice for her stepdaughter, she wants the same justice for every child who has been assaulted.
When Phillips learned about the indictment of Logan Brentlinger on Tuesday, she said she was "glad they caught" the alleged rapist.
A Lucas County grand jury on Tuesday indicted Brentlinger, 20, on 17 counts including charges of rape and charges related to child sex abuse material involving victims younger than 10 years old, according to court documents and police reports.
Maumee police did a forensic analysis on Brentlinger's phone in December of last year and said they found at least 20 videos of Brentlinger sexually abusing a child between the ages of five and eight years old.
"It's a big thing and it's going to take a whole village to get these people, but we need to come together and do it for the children," Phillips said.
With Brentlinger's alleged victims being so young, Phillips wants programs in primary schools to teach children about what kind of behavior from adults is inappropriate.
"I want to work on getting programs in schools with the younger kids," Phillips said. "I know there's sex ed in seventh, eighth and ninth (grades). I need the kindergarteners and first graders to learn."
She also wants to continue her work helping educate parents on what signs to look out for.
"I do feel like I may be looking at everybody as if I might be judging a little, but that's just me and I guess I'd rather be safe than sorry again," Phillips said.
Below are sexual abuse warning signs parents can look out for, according to the Ohio Children's Trust Fund:
- Trouble walking or sitting
- Displays knowledge of sexual acts or behavior
- Makes strong efforts to avoid a specific person without an obvious reason
- Doesn’t want to change clothes in front of others or participate in physical activities
- Contracts an STD or becomes pregnant, especially under the age of 14
- Runs away from home