Investigators in New Jersey are looking into whether a Marine recruiter accused of touching himself inappropriately while calling out to three young children may have been involved in other such incidents, according to the Union County Prosecutor.
Sgt. Wade Phillips, 27, faces charges of sexual assault and endangering the welfare of a child, a prosecutor's office news release says. He is being held at the Union County Jail in lieu of $125,000 bail.
Phillips was arrested Tuesday in connection with an Oct. 5 incident in Roselle, New Jersey, where he allegedly tried to lure two 11-year-old girls and one 10-year-old boy who were walking to school, the news release says.
The children reported what happened when they arrived at school and police arrested Phillips after tracking down the government vehicle he supposedly was driving on Oct. 5, the news release says.
"Investigators are working to determine whether Phillips may also be responsible for at least five similar incidents that took place in Roselle and Roselle Park during the last six weeks," the news release says.
As of Thursday no additional charges had been filed against Phillips, a spokesman for the prosecutor's office told Marine Corps Times.
Phillips began his recruiting duty tour in January 2016 and most recently was assigned to a recruiting substation in Elizabeth, New Jersey, said Sgt. Joey Holeman, a spokesman for Recruiting Station New Jersey.
Since his arrest, Phillips has been suspended from all recruiting duties, said Maj. M. McDaniel Sharber, commanding officer of Recruiting Station New Jersey, where Phillips has been administratively reassigned.
"The alleged actions do not represent the Marine Corps and are inconsistent with our core values of honor, courage, and commitment," Sharber said in a statement to Marine Corps Times. "All allegations regarding this matter will be investigated thoroughly and substantiated reports will be adjudicated appropriately. We will continue to fully cooperate with local authorities as they conduct their investigation."
Investigators ask anyone with information about other attempted child luring incidents in Roselle and Roselle Park to call Roselle Park Police Department Detective Sgt. Dominick Frino at 908-445-2984; Roselle Police Department Detective Carmen Olivera at 908-245-9200; or Union County Prosecutor's Office Sgt. Timothy Durkin at 908-965-3884.
Marine Corps Times reporter Jeff Schogol can be reached at jschogol@marinecorpstimes.com
