JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The murder of 8-year-old Maddie Clifton in November 1998 left Northeast Florida stunned.
The then 14-year-old Joshua Phillips, Clifton’s neighbor, was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole a year later.
In 2017, Phillips was resentenced following a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that found mandatory life sentences for juveniles unconstitutional. Despite the resentencing, Phillips received another life sentence.
Court documents filed in May show Phillips is formally applying for a sentence review, citing the completion of his 25-year mandatory term. In his filing, Phillips states that he is acting “in good faith” and requests the opportunity to “present witnesses” during the review process.
As of Monday, Phillips was being held in the Duval County jail after being transported from Suwannee County Correctional on Friday afternoon.
Veteran prosecutor of the 4th Judicial Circuit, Bernie de la Rionda, handled the 2017 resentencing. Though he was not involved in the original prosecution, de la Rionda remembers the emotion of Clifton’s case.
“This is one of those cases that stands out in terms of the impact on the community,” de la Rionda said. “I am so sorry that the victim’s family has had, is having to go through this again.“
Phillips’ request for a sentence review is in line with legal provisions allowing for such reviews after 25 years.
De la Rionda noted that during the 2017 resentencing, the judge determined that Phillips should remain in prison for life, but acknowledged his entitlement to a review.
During the 2017 resentencing proceedings, Phillips addressed Clifton’s family directly.
“I don’t pretend to know or understand your pain,” Phillips said. “Or to grasp the void that I’ve created in your lives.”
Phillips has requested a public defender and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday at 9 a.m. The court may set another date for further proceedings at that time.
Efforts to reach Maddie Clifton’s family for comment have been unsuccessful, but any response will be included in future updates.
