A New Brighton City Council member arrested earlier this year
STAR TRIBUNE (Mpls.-St. Paul) Newspaper of the Twin Cities
Date: 05/22/08
ANTHONY LONETREE; Staff Writer
A New Brighton City Council member arrested earlier this year in an undercover prostitution sting has signaled plans to fight a misdemeanor charge of engaging in prostitution. David Phillips, an architect and first-term council member, has hired high-profile defense attorney Earl Gray, who entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf Wednesday. A pretrial hearing was set for June 25 in Ramsey County District Court. Phillips was one of nine men arrested by St. Paul police in a Feb. 25 sting at a University Avenue hotel. Police spokesman Peter Panos said Wednesday that the men had set up "dates" over the Internet and were arrested after showing up to try to consummate the deals. The citation issued to Phillips alleged he had "agreed to pay for a sex act." On Wednesday, Phillips was scheduled to appear at a 1 p.m. arraignment, and although he was in court briefly, Gray made arrangements to have the plea entered administratively, and the case was continued to June 25. Asked later by phone to comment on the not-guilty plea, Phillips said: "I didn't do anything today. Thank you. Bye." Gray did not return a call seeking comment.waves his arms. In his closing statements, he sometimes wanders from the podium.