Son of Smith County Officials Charged with Rape

SHREVEPORT, La. – Two men, including the son of two Smith County elected officials, are now behind bars following an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in Louisiana Sunday morning. KETK reports that just before 9:00 a.m. on January 11, Shreveport Police patrol officers were called to the 100 block of Lake St. on reports of an alleged sexual assault. In speaking with the victim, it was learned the woman was possibly assaulted by two men whom she met earlier while at a local hotel. Shreveport Police Sex Crimes detectives were called to the scene of the crime and an investigation was launched.

As authorities learned more details related to the accusations, two men at the hotel were taken into custody in connection with the assault. Detectives identified the men as Derek Phillips, 28, (pictured) and Spencer Pace, 28, both of Longview. Both suspects were taken to Shreveport Police headquarters where they were interviewed. Following the interrogation, both men were charged with a single count of simple rape. The men were booked into the Shreveport City Jail.

Derek Phillips is the son of Smith County Precinct 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips and Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips. He is a former Smith County deputy constable and resigned from the Hallsville police force about a month ago. This isn’t Derek Phillips’s first run-in with the law. In 2009, he was investigated by the Texas Rangers for allegedly flashing a gun and badge at a party.