TYLER, Texas — Editor's Note: The above video aired on April 2, 2024.
Lance Phillips, the son of Smith County Pct. 3 Commissioner Terry Phillips and Smith County Clerk Karen Phillips, is not allowed to contact any sitting Smith County Commissioners Court member except his father under new bond conditions approved Wednesday.
Lance Phillips is charged with assaulting a peace officer or judge in connection with an April 2 incident at Smith County Commissioners Court. On Wednesday, he waived his arraignment and the presiding judge imposed additional special bond conditions.
The latest bond conditions say he is prohibited from:
- Video or audio recording any employee or elected official of Smith County with the exception of a direct or specific interaction with a Smith County law enforcement deputy
- Having contact with any sitting Smith County Commissioners Court member (except his father Terry Phillips) as they are potential witnesses in this case
- Alarming, harassing, threatening or annoying any Smith County employee or elected official regardless of the department they work in
His trial date has been set for Oct. 8 with a pre-trial hearing happening on Oct. 1 in the 7th District Court.
During an April 2 Smith County Commissioners Court meeting, Lance Phillips was held in contempt while attempting to speak during the public comment section of the meeting. He went off topic and Smith County Judge Neal Franklin motioned to hold Phillips in contempt, issue a $25 fine and that he spend 24 hours in jail.
He was later arrested on assaulting a public servant, contempt, hinder proceedings by disorderly conduct and resist arrest, search or transport.
Other bond conditions that were already in place include:
- Restriction from entering Smith County commissioners courtroom while commissioners court is "in session"
- Restriction from any room that immediately adjoins the commissioners courtroom
- Restriction from any rom or adjacent rooms at any location where commissioners are meeting with a quorum as a court
The conditions define "in session" as 30 minutes prior to, while in session and 30 minutes after commissioners court adjourns.
Violating any of his bond conditions could result in Lance Phillips getting arrest.