Former Phillipsburg officer sentenced to 43 years in prison for sex crimes
DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) - A former Phillipsburg Police officer has been sentenced to 43 years in prison after he was found guilty of multiple counts including rape and aggravated burglary.
Justin Sanderson, 33, of Huber Heights was dressed in his police uniform on June 28, 2017 and was driving his Phillipsburg police cruiser when he met with two women at the Knights Inn on Poe Avenue. Authorities say he'd met the women over an ad posted on backpage.com. After arriving at the hotel, authorities say Sanderson told the front desk clerk he was there for an investigation and needed the key to the room where the women had checked in. When Sanderson entered the room, he told the women he was conducting an investigation into human trafficking and prostitution and was going to give them a warning. He left the room but then returned a few minutes later and had sexual relations with the women.
On July 3rd, the women reported the incident to Vandalia Police, telling officers they didn't feel like they could resist Sanderson's actions because he was a police officer. Just a few days after the women reported Sanderson, a Vandalia Police officer was on routine patrol and spotted a Phillipsburg Police cruiser in the parking lot of the Knights Inn. The officer later took Sanderson into custody.
After Sanderson's arrest, two more victims came forward to report similar incidents to police. A woman says on May 20, 2017, a woman was stopped by Sanderson for OVI, she said she was taken to the Phillipsburg Police station where she was forced to have sex with him. On June 3rd, another woman was arrested by Sanderson and said she was also taken to the police station to have sexual relations with him.
One of the victims, who did not want to be identified spoke after the sentencing saying she feels like justice was served, "definitely feel like the punishment fits the crime." The woman also had a message to authorities who prosecuted the case, "thank you for believing our accusations. The woman said it's been a long process and she's glad it's all come to an end. Sanderson was found guilty on August 29 on multiple counts.
