A man from the Mineral Ridge pleads guilty to having sex with children News, Sports, Work

WARREN. A former Akron police officer faces a maximum of 61 to 65 years in prison after pleading guilty to eight counts of 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 Judge Ronald Rice to charges that include three counts of solicitation of sexually oriented material involving a minor, three counts of unlawful use of a minor in material involving a naked body, one count gross sexual assault and one count of indecency with a minor.

At his Nov. 26 sentencing hearing, Rice will also declare him a Tier 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 indictment offset a jury trial that was scheduled to begin Nov. 12.

A pre-sentence hearing has been ordered, and the Trumbull County District Attorney’s Office plans to recommend a lengthy prison term.

The allegations against Parker came after a cyber report about his actions on the text messaging app. According to Niles Law director Phillip Zuzolo, Parker took candid photos of the 4-year-old and shared them in online chat rooms that require participants to “give something to get something” to gain access.

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

Parker, who has been with the Akron Police Department for four years, has been placed on leave pending the outcome of his case. He was initially booked into the Summit County Jail and later transferred to the Trumbull County Jail.