Cincinnati police arrested a Mount Washington man yesterday after detectives said he tried to lure children into his vehicle in two separate incidents. Court documents and investigators identify the suspect as Steven Parker, who is accused of trying to coax a 12-year-old into his car in May and later of pursuing a 14-year-old across parking lots while allegedly attempting to get her inside. Parker faces menacing by stalking and child enticement charges and is scheduled for arraignment today.
According to WKRC, Cincinnati police detectives say Parker tried to coax a 12-year-old to get into his vehicle with the intent to engage in a sex act in May. The station reports that court documents describe Parker pursuing the 14-year-old across parking lots as he attempted to get her into his vehicle.
Charges And What They Mean Under Ohio Law
Those counts, menacing by stalking and criminal child enticement, carry specific elements under state law. Criminal child enticement prohibits luring a child under 14 into a vehicle or vessel without the parent's permission, according to Ohio Revised Code Section 2905.05. Menacing by stalking is defined as a pattern of conduct that knowingly causes another to fear physical harm or suffer mental distress, and the statute allows enhanced penalties when the victim is a minor, see Ohio Revised Code Section 2903.211.
What Residents Should Know
Parker is scheduled to be arraigned today, and the case remains under active investigation by Cincinnati police, WKRC reports. Anyone with information about the incidents is asked to contact the authorities. Parents are urged to remind children not to approach strangers or enter vehicles with people they do not know. This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
