WARREN, Ohio — A grand jury in Trumbull County has indicted Akron police officer Geoffrey Parker on multiple child pornography charges, including illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and gross sexual imposition.
According to court records, the 34-year-old Parker is facing 11 charges in all:
- 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
Parker pleaded not guilty at his arraignment on Thursday and had his $1 million bond from Niles Municipal Court continued. A pretrial hearing has been set for Oct. 8, with Parker's trial slated to start on Nov. 12.
According to Akron police, Parker was arrested on Aug. 16 at around 9 p.m. by members of the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI). Following the arrest, Parker was taken to the Summit County Jail.
Parker, a four-year Akron Police Department member, was "immediately placed on administrative leave with pay, per departmental procedure and according to the union contract, pending a criminal indictment," according to a release.
According to 3News media partner Signal Akron, citing an Akron police spokesperson, Parker is now on unpaid leave per the department’s collective bargaining agreement and policy.
“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.”
The City of Akron Police Department’s Office of Professional Standards and Accountability will conduct a separate internal investigation into the allegations. The results will be provided to Harding for a final review.
"If you have been the victim of abuse, no matter who the perpetrator is, we encourage you to come forward and report it by contacting your local police department. You can also contact the Victim Assistance Program hotline at 330-376-0040, 24 hours a day, for crisis intervention, advocacy, and education," said Akron police.
3News' Anna Meyer contributed to this story