Executive director of Sharon youth organization free on bond in sexting case
SHARON, Pa. - The executive director of a Sharon non-profit that helps troubled youth was brought before a judge Monday for allegedly exposing himself in front of a teen girl.
Police had been on the lookout for 37-year-old Sonny Lee Parker, who faces felony charges of corruption of a minor and promoting prostitution of a minor.
Sharon police were able to convince Parker, through his attorney, to turn himself in on Monday morning.
According to a criminal complaint, on January 21, Parker allegedly tried to corrupt a minor by inappropriately exposing and touching himself in front of the 15-year-old female victim, while telling her to look at him.
Before the act, Parker discussed with the victim about buying her shoes or a watch and did discuss her "watching" him, according to the complaint.
This all happened while the victim was babysitting Parker's nine-month-old child, according to an affidavit.
The affidavit goes on to say that on January 17, Parker texted the victim and asked if she liked "nice things" and if she would like to make money other than babysitting.
The teen then told police that Parker was afraid to tell her how to make that extra money, and he was drunk.
He then asked the victim to switch to Snapchat to chat, which she did, according to the affidavit.
Parker then allegedly sent her a Snapchat and asked her to open it, which she did not.
During the incident just four days later, police said the victim texted a family friend and said she was in an "uncomfortable situation" with the father of the child she was babysitting.
Parker was arraigned Monday on charges of corruption of minors, unlawful contact with a minor, promoting prostitution, indecent exposure, and open lewdness.
Parker was released on a $200,000 unsecured bond and is required to attend all future hearings in the case. An unsecured bond is one that is not backed by any collateral, such as a house or vehicle.
Parker is also forbidden to drink alcohol or go into bars and cannot have any contact with minor females without supervision.
A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for February 6.
