A Warren woman involved in a criminal enterprise has been sentenced for her involvement

Tara J. Phillips was sentenced on Friday by President Judge Maureen Skerda on charges of endangering the welfare of a child possession and possession with intent to deliver.

Witnesses at prior proceedings testified that Phillips lived with Franklyn M. Geiger, that she is the mother of one of his children, and worked as the office manager and a painter for his company – Geiger and Sons Construction.

Geiger was sentenced to 92 to 184 months in state prison in October on two counts of possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communications facility, corrupt organizations, buying/exchanging federal food stamps and cruelty to animals.

Sheriff Ken Klakamp testified during a bail hearing in February that Phillips was present in the house she shared with Geiger during at least three of four controlled buys of illegal drugs conducted by the Warren County Drug Task Force from September through November 2015.

Klakamp said he heard Geiger tell Phillips to “go get some of the weed…”during one of the buys.

Officials also testified that Phillips had posted to Facebook a photo of her holding her infant son in which he was “holding cash” and said denominations and partial serial numbers on the bills in the photos matched those used in a buy the day before the photo was posted.

Phillips’ attorney, Elizabeth Feronti, told the court that Phillips entered her plea to take full responsibility.

She said that Phillips has no prior criminal history.

“Her life as it is today is a result of Mr. Geiger,” Feronti said, explaining that Phillips has had no family support in her life and was “made a minion in his (Geiger’s) enterprise.”

Feronti told the court that Geiger had written to the court on Phillips’ behalf but that the letter was “one last little way of holding their relationship over her head.”

She said that Phillips wants to address her drug addiction and wants to be there to mother her child as Geiger will be in prison for many years.

Feronti acknowledged that Phillips picked up new charges – burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault and harassment – in December when, with a co-conspirator, she broke into a Dey Lane residence, stole pills and assaulted two neighbors.

Feronti said that the new charges leave Phillips “another victim of circumstance” with a known drug dealer, calling her “very vulnerable.”

First Assistant District Attorney Caleb Gnage said that “little differs in the Commonwealth’s opinion. Where we differ is her culpability… (And) involvement in the Geiger enterprise.” He asked Skerda to consider the new charges, at least regarding bail, and Skerda said she couldn’t because they haven’t been adjudicated yet.

Skerda sentenced Phillips to a five year intermediate punishment with 192 days to be served in the Warren County Jail followed by 60 days of house arrest and then general supervision on a count of endangering the welfare of a child. She was given credit for 192 days time served  and is work release and early re-entry eligible.

She was ordered to pay $1,125 in fines and fees, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and any treatment recommended, to participate in the COG group and parenting classes, to undergo a mental health evaluation and participate in any treatment recommended and to complete 225 hours of community service.

On a count of possession with intent to deliver, Phillips was sentenced to one year probation, $100 in fees, submission of a DNA sample and six month driver’s license suspension.