Phillips pleads to murder

Murder suspect Chad Phillips (in the orange jumpsuit) entered a plea to aggravated murder, one of several charges against him, during a hearing held in tight security in Van Wert County Common Pleas Court Thursday afternoon. The charge carries a minimum sentence of life in prison, with parole after 20 years, to a maximum of life in prison without parole. Here, Probation Officer Frank Bowen explains procedures to Phillips while his attorneys, Michael J. Camera and Leif B. Christman, look on. A more complete story will be in Friday’s independent. (Dave Mosier/Van Wert independent)