Former California Fire Captain Sentenced in Taping Teens in Fire Program

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) -- A former fire captain and Rohnert Park police officer accused of secretly taping teens having sex is going to jail.

A Sonoma County judge sentenced 34-year-old Matthew David Phillips to 2 years and 8 months in prison Thursday. Phillips pleaded no contest in September to six felony charges, including three counts of surreptitiously filming people engaged in sexual activity.

Phillips, a former Bennett Valley volunteer fire captain, was accused of taping teenage boys having sex with their girlfriends. Authorities say the girls were unaware they were being filmed.

The boys were in a training program Phillips coordinated for teens interested in pursuing a career in firefighting.

Phillips will have to register as a sex offender after his release.

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Permalink Reply by Jerry on February 20, 2009 at 10:48am

I know that many FD's don't (or can't) do background checks on members, but aren't they suppossed to do a complete background check on police officers? This guy must have really slipped through the cracks.

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Permalink Reply by Fire Chick on February 20, 2009 at 10:58am

it doesnt suprise me the cap. but a cop.. that is what backround checks are made for.... i know fd usually cant do them but cops should have to have one... they are the one protecting us... now u cant even trust them...dont saying that it doesnt suprise me about the cap. because i have something against him, but i know alot of ppl in the fire service that are like that and just havent been caught yet..