Prison for hostage taker

A man who took a 91-year-old woman and a nurse hostage at a Chula Vista retirement facility has been sentenced to five years and eight months in state prison.

Brian Michael Phillips, 31, was given credit for 217 days spent in jail since the April 3 incident at the Fredericka Manor at 183 Third Ave. near D Street, and he was fined.

The elderly woman and a 25-year-old nurse were shaken but not hurt. Phillips was holding a butter knife with him and he escaped the facility before a Chula Vista Police SWAT unit arrived.

Phillips pleaded guilty to false imprisonment of an elder, felony assault, and false imprisonment of the nurse. Deputy District Attorney Jim Waters asked Chula Vista Superior Court Judge Francis Devaney for the five year, eight month sentence on Nov. 5.

Phillips broke into the facility around 6:45 p.m. Charges of elder abuse, burglary, and a second assault charge were dismissed. He has a prior conviction for driving under the influence and illegal possession of drugs, court records say.