A former Akron police officer has pleaded guilty to a series of child pornography charges after being accused of engaging in the production and distribution of sexually explicit material involving minors. Geoffrey Parker, 34, from Mineral Ridge, entered his plea in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, facing eight felony charges, which include multiple counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor and gross sexual imposition.
In details gleaned from NBC4i, Parker is accused of not only sharing explicit videos of minors but also photographing a child in a state of nudity. The indictment stems from an incident involving a 4-year-old girl in Weathersfield. Following a pre-sentence investigation, the court has scheduled Parker's sentencing hearing for November 26.
As reported by WKYC, Parker was initially put on administrative leave with pay, which subsequently turned to unpaid leave after his indictment. The Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman, who heads the office’s Child Pornography/Cyber Abuse Division, stated that Parker faces a maximum of 61 to 65 years in prison.
"I am sickened to learn of these charges against one of our employees," said Akron Police Chief Brian Harding in a statement obtained by WKYC. He trusted the judicial and legal process to "reveal the truth" and insisted on accountability for anyone engaging in such behavior. The Akron Police Department has not provided an update on Parker's job status following his guilty plea, 3News reported.
Before changing his plea to guilty, Parker was set to face a jury trial beginning on November 12, as highlighted by the Akron Beacon Journal. He remains on unpaid administrative leave and is held in the Trumbull County Jail on a $1 million bond. Parker's legal representation has not made public comments since the guilty plea.
