The Selma Times-Journal

Tommie Phillips, one of the suspects in the robbery of a Girl Scout troop while they were collecting donations in the Winn-Dixie off Dallas Avenue on Feb. 18 had his bond hearing yesterday.

While his bond was set at $100,000, no amount of money is going to spring him from jail right now. Phillip’s rap sheet, according to assistant district attorney John Oxford, includes numerous previous charges and convictions for robbery and other related crimes.

With this latest crime, Phillips, 35, of Selma, violated his parole for a prior conviction. Allegedly, he had only been out on probation for a couple of months when he was implicated in the Girl Scout theft, according the Selma police investigators.

“Two of Phillip’s prior’s (convictions) included armed robberies,” stated Selma police Det. Tommy Buford.

District Attorney Michael Jackson summed up the character of anyone who would steal from children.

“We are not going to tolerate this – someone who would steal from Girl Scouts would do anything,” he said.

According to police records, two of Phillips most recent robberies include two armed robberies; one involving a convenience store and another a newspaper carrier.

Prior to this latest charge, Phillips had served nine years on a 20-year stretch for the last armed robbery conviction, which was in 1997.

Phillips can not post bail until he gets a bond hearing for the additional charge of violating his probation.

It is doubtful, however, that he will be getting out any time soon, according to officials.

Originally, Phillips was picked up after probable cause had been established, which was accomplished through a combination of his being picked out in a line up and the partial tag number witnesses at the scene gave police, explained Oxford.

Phillip’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 30, he said.