FORT PAYNE, Ala. – DeKalb County investigators, along with Collinsville police, arrested 67-year-old Kenneth Earl Phillips, a convicted sex offender, for trespassing on school grounds. Phillips, from Collinsville, was taken into custody on Monday night and is now facing additional charges for violating the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA).
The investigation began earlier that day after a tip from the School Resource Officer (SRO) at Collinsville School, who reported seeing a convicted sex offender on school property after hours. The sheriff’s office was alerted, and the DeKalb County Criminal Investigation Unit launched an immediate investigation.
Around 10:45 p.m., investigators, the Collinsville SRO, and police officers conducted a search in the area where the suspect had been spotted. They discovered a campsite in a wooded area near the school and located Phillips there. He was identified as a convicted sex offender with a first-degree rape conviction from 1992 in St. Clair County.
Phillips had recently registered as “homeless” when updating his information. The area where he was found was less than 600 feet from the Collinsville School property line and under 1,000 feet from the nearest school building. As a result, Phillips was charged with a SORNA violation for establishing a residence too close to a school, specifically within 2,000 feet.
Phillips was arrested and is currently being held at the DeKalb County Detention Center. Authorities praised the collaboration between local law enforcement, noting the swift action that prevented further incidents. DeKalb County Sheriff Nick Welden urged the public to remain vigilant and report anything unusual.
Let me know if you need further assistance!
