WARREN, Ohio — Suspended Akron police officer Geoffrey Parker has pleaded guilty to multiple child pornography charges, including illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and gross sexual imposition, in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court.
Parker, 34, from Mineral Ridge, pleaded guilty to the following charges, according to a release from the Trumbull County Prosecutor's Office:
- Three counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor
- Three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material
- One count of gross sexual imposition
- One count of pandering obscenity involving a minor
Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman, who heads the office’s Child Pornography/Cyber Abuse Division, said in the release that Parker faces a maximum 61 to 65 years in prison.
Parker is scheduled to be sentenced by Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Ronald Rice on Nov. 26.
CASE HISTORY
Prosecutors say the case started in August of this year after the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) traced a nude photo of a 4-year-old girl in Weathersfield that was sent to an online chatroom app back to Parker, who was also convicted of taking nude images of himself with young children.
According to Akron police, Parker was arrested on Aug. 16 at around 9 p.m. by members of the Ohio BCI and taken to the Summit County Jail.
Parker, a four-year member of the Akron Police Department, was "immediately placed on administrative leave with pay, per departmental procedure and according to the union contract, pending a criminal indictment," according to officials.
“I am sickened to learn of these charges against one of our employees. I thank the Bureau of Criminal Investigation for handling this case and trust that the judicial and legal process will reveal the truth," said Akron Police Chief Brian Harding in a statement following Parker's arrest. "Anyone engaging in this behavior should be held accountable for their actions to the fullest extent possible by law. I’m confident that justice will be served.”
On Oct. 2, Parker was indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury on 11 charges:
- Three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material
- Two counts of gross sexual imposition
- Four counts of pandering sexually-oriented matter involving a minor
- One count of pandering obscenity involving a minor
According to 3News media partner Signal Akron, citing an Akron police spokesperson, Parker was put on unpaid leave per the department’s collective bargaining agreement and policy after his indictment. 3News has reached out to the Akron Police Department for an update on Parker's job status.
Prior to Thursday's plea agreement, Parker's trial was slated to start on Nov. 12. He is currently being held in the Trumbull County Jail on a $1 million bond.