Mineral Ridge man pleads guilty in child sex abuse case | News, Sports, Vacancies

WARREN — A former Akron police officer faces a maximum sentence of 61 to 65 years in prison after pleading guilty to eight felony sex crimes involving minors, according to the Trumbull County District Attorney’s Office.

Jeffrey Parker, 34, of Mineral Ridge, entered the plea before Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice on charges that include three counts of promoting sexually oriented material involving a minor, three counts of unlawful use of a minor in sexually oriented material for nudity, one count of gross sexual imposition and one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor.

At his sentencing hearing on Nov. 26, Rice will also declare him a Level 2 sex offender, meaning Parker will have to register his address with the local sheriff’s office twice a year for the next 25 years. The plea offset the jury trial, which was scheduled to begin Nov. 12.

A pre-sentence investigation has been ordered, and Trumbull County prosecutors plan to recommend a harsh prison sentence.

The charges against Parker came after a cyber tip flagged his activity on a text messaging app. According to Niles Legal Director Phillip Zuzolo, Parker took explicit photos of the four-year-old and shared them in online chat rooms that require participants to “give something to get something” in order to gain access.

Parker was initially held on $1 million bail following his arrest in August by Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents. During a previous court appearance, Niles Municipal Court Judge Christopher Shaker barred Parker, if released on bail, from living at his Wethersfield home because of its proximity to the school.

After four years with the Akron Police Department, Parker was placed on leave pending a decision on his case. He was initially booked into the Summit County Jail and later transferred to the Trumbull County Jail.