A Cockeysville man is facing rape and other related charges in connection with the alleged ongoing sexual abuse of girl.
The alleged abuse took place in Harford County and at least one other nearby jurisdiction, according to charging documents.
Phillip Reginald Weaver Jr., 37, of the first block of Tradewind Court, was charged Tuesday with second-degree rape, sex abuse of a minor as continuing course of conduct, second-degree child abuse, sex abuse of a minor, second-degree sex offense, third-degree sex offense, fourth-degree sex offense, perverted practice and second-degree assault.
This summer, Baltimore City Police department received a referral that stated a girl who is now 10 told her mother that she had been sexually assaulted on a number of occasions between 2008 and 2010, according to charging documents. The girl told her mother Weaver, a man she and her mother know, was the man who allegedly assaulted her, according to charging documents.
The girl and her mother met with members of the Baltimore County Child Advocacy Center, and the girl told them Weaver performed various sexual acts on her and forced her to perform sexual acts, according to charging documents. She said the incidents took place at the Super 8 Motel in Abingdon on several occasions, according to charging documents.
At a bail review hearing in Harford County District Court Wednesday, Weaver's lawyer, J. Wyndal Gordon, acknowledged the charges are very serious.
"We would advise that he's never even been alone with the victim," Gordon said.
Gordon said no medical examination was conducted on the child and there is no physical evidence demonstrating this crime occurred.
"There is a lot going on with this case," Gordon said.
He then asked several family members to speak on Weaver's behalf. Weaver's uncle, wife and sisters all spoke, saying they would still trust their kids with him despite the allegations and he has always been known as a protector.
Assistant State's Attorney Diane Adkins-Tobin said that a bail hearing is not the time to try the case or for her to address each of Gordon's claims.
"I really don't know what to say to respond," she said.
She countered by saying vaginal damage heals quickly and damage done during an incident in 2008 may not have be visible by 2011, making a physical examination irrelevant. She also said full penetration is not required to qualify an assault as rape.
District Court Judge Susan Hazlett reiterated that for the purposes of a bail review is to assume the allegations are true and review a defendant's risk of flight or danger to the community.
Adkins-Tobin refrained from addressing any further issues the state had with Gordon's defense and asked the court to revoke Weaver's bail.
"The state believes he poses a serious risk to the community and certainly to the victim and the family," Adkins-Tobin said.
Before ruling on the bail, Hazlett asked Weaver if he had anything he would like to say.
"I'm not this monster that everyone is trying to make me out to be," Weaver said in response.
Hazlett ordered bail remain as set at $1 million. Weaver remained in custody at the Harford County Detention Center Monday afternoon and his bail had not changed.