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Jan 4, 2006 10:56 pm US/Eastern
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Exclusive: Community Upset Over Resident Rapist
Man Who Pleaded Guilty To Crime In 2003 Now Living In Daycare Center
by Hazel Sanchez
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
Edna Rosa was shaking when she was told Cornelius Phillips, a man convicted of rape, was living below her in an East New York apartment at 703 Pine St.
"It's scary because I have 4 children," Rosa said.
The apartment also happens to be a daycare center run by the rapist's mother.
The mother's friend and neighbor, Willie Johnson, said he didn't know Phillips was living next door.
"I thought her sons were living upstate," Johnson said. "So I don't know who was living in that house."
In March of 2003, 21-year-old Phillips pleaded guilty to raping a 15-year-old girl. He was placed on probation for being a youthful offender.
Last week Phillips was arrested outside the Shanti Day Care where he lives for having two guns in his possession.
But Wednesday a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge released Phillips on his own recognizance over the objections of the New York City Probation officials who on Wednesday night said in a statement:
"We intend to come down hard on probationers arrested on weapons charges."
Rosa says she can't believe the justice system would allow Phillips to go free.
"It's messed up," she said.
(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.)