Family Friend Charged With Sexually Abusing Girl at Christian Homeschooler's Meeting

A 28-year-old Joliet man is accused of fondling and having sexual contact with an underage girl at a Christian homeschooler’s meeting in an Oak Forest church in 2015.

Phillip Farmer appeared before Cook County Judge Peter Felice on two felony charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one felony charge of grooming.

According to the charges, Farmer was a friend of the then-16-year-old girl’s family when they attended a homeschooler’s meeting at Grace Fellowship Church, 15150 Oak Park Ave., Oak Forest, in January 2015.

The prosecutor said that Farmer, who was 27 at the time of the offense, had contact with the girl on Google hangouts, where naked pictures had been exchanged.

During the meeting on Jan. 20, 2015, the prosecutor said Farmer and the girl stole off to the church kitchen, where he told the girl to “trust me.”

He allegedly began feeling the girl over her clothes, which led to skin-to- skin contact with the girl’s breasts, stomach and buttocks. No penetration or sexual intercourse occurred. After the encounter, the prosecutor said Farmer retreated into a restroom where he masturbated.

The next day, Farmer told the girl he had masturbated after their kitchen encounter on Google hangouts, the prosecutor said.

The next encounter was said to have occurred at the same Oak Forest church on Feb. 17, 2015. This time, Farmer and the girl went to an empty classroom in a secluded hallway. There, Farmer had the girl touch his penis over and under his clothes, according to the criminal complaint.

The prosecutor said the girl mentioned the incidents several times, but had no specific time of when she cried out or whom she told, up until Farmer’s arrest on March 21.

Farmer’s attorney told the judge that Farmer has no criminal background or history of violence. He works full time and his family was in court to support him.

The attorney said his family would be able to put up a $1,000 to $5,000 bond, after correcting himself from originally stating $100,000 to $500,000 bail.

The prosecutor said the girl is presently receiving psychological counseling. She has turned 17 years old since the alleged incidents.

“I didn’t hear violence or that he forced or threatened her,” Judge Felice said. “Still she was 16 and unable to give her consent.”

The judge also ordered as special conditions of bail that Farmer was not to have contact with the girl, or access the Internet while the case is pending.

Bail was set at $50,000. Farmer’s attorney said his client would live with his family after posting bond. Farmer is due back in court on April 19 in Bridgeview.

If convicted, the charges are probational but do require Farmer to register as a sex offender, the prosecutor said.