Phillips originally pleaded not guilty to the charges, but on Thursday he changed the plea and pleaded guilty to importuning and attempted unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
Greene County Judge Wolaver said the court accepted his guilty plea and found Phillips guilty without reasonable doubt.
At the time of his arrest, Phillips worked with elementary school children as a full-time pastor at the North Terrace Church in Zanesville. Officials with the church said Phillips was immediately put on suspension.
Bobby Jackson, a representative from the church, said as the investigation moved forward, the church believed it was necessary to relieve him from his job. The representative said Phillips is not allowed on the campus without an escort.
Jackson said he did not know that Phillips changed his plea until NewsCenter 7's Gabrielle Enright told him. Enright asked if Philips could ever get his job back and Jackson said, "There is no possibility of that every happening again in the future."
Phillips posted bond in March and the judge continued his bond on Thursday. That means Phillips is free to go home for now.