No contest plea for Albion man in sexual assault case

Nov. 15--A 36-year-old Erie County man has pleaded no contest in Crawford County Court of Common Pleas to having sexual relations in 2016 with a then 13-year-old girl.

Gregory J. Parker of 13044 W. Cherry Hill Road, Albion, entered a no contest plea to a charge of statutory sexual assault Thursday before President Judge Anthony Vardaro.

In January, Pennsylvania State Police at Meadville charged Parker with first degree felony charges of rape by forcible compulsion, statutory sexual assault and unlawful contact with a minor -- sexual offenses as well as a second degree felony charge of sexual assault. He also was charged with misdemeanor counts of indecent assault by forcible compulsion, corruption of minors, indecent assault without consent and two counts of indecent assault of a person less than 16 years old.

Parker had sexual relations with the girl at a Beaver Center Road residence in Conneaut Township from Sept. 30 through Oct. 21, 2016, according to state police charges. Parker was 33 years old at the time and the girl was 13, police said.

Parker entered the no contest plea to statutory sexual assault charge as part of a plea agreement with the Crawford County District Attorney's Office. The other charges won't be prosecuted as part of the plea agreement.

Under the deal, Parker would serve a maximum county jail sentence of 12 months less one day to 24 months less one day; not be eligible for work release or house arrest/electronic monitoring; and undergo a CART, or Community Abuse Response Team, evaluation for sexual offenders. Parker also would serve five years probation following completion of his jail sentence, according to the plea deal.

The statutory sexual assault charge is graded as a second-degree felony with a maximum penalty of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine.

Parker remains free on $25,000 unsecured bond as he awaits sentencing Jan. 7 by Judge Mark Stevens. Parker will be sentenced by Stevens as Vardaro is retiring at the end of the year.

Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by email at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.

___

(c)2019 The Meadville Tribune (Meadville, Pa.)

Visit The Meadville Tribune (Meadville, Pa.) at meadvilletribune.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.