A Texas man extradited to Lincoln County in July pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful sexual contact, a class B felony, in Lincoln County Superior Court Tuesday, Nov. 23. Stacy Parker, 37, of Little Elm, Texas, was sentenced to three years in prison with all but nine months suspended, plus two years of probation.
Parker must register as a sex offender for a 10-year period and have no contact with the victim as part of his probation conditions. As part of the plea agreement, two additional counts of unlawful sexual contact were dismissed.
Parker entered his guilty plea as an Alford plea, in which the defendant recognizes there is enough evidence for the court to convict, but does not make an admission of guilt.
“It was not the best outcome but a good one, because it protected a vulnerable young person from having to testify,” District Attorney Geoffrey Rushlau said. “It was very clear how difficult disclosing (the abuse) was for the victim.”
The abuse of the child occurred in 2010, years before it was reported, when the child was 7 years old, Rushlau said. In 2015, the child disclosed the abuse to some family members and friends.
The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office was notified and an investigation ensued. According to the statement of the victim, Parker entered her bedroom at night on several occasions and touched her in a sexual manner.
Parker was formerly a friend of the victim’s family.
Due to complicating circumstances, no contact with the victim was one of Parker’s only probation requirements.
Normally, with sexual abuse cases, sex offender counseling is required as a condition of probation, Rushlau said. However, Parker has repeatedly maintained his innocence to several different law enforcement officials, which would render sex offender counseling unsuccessful, Rushlau said.
Normally, no contact with children under a certain age is also a probation requirement for cases involving the sexual abuse of a minor. However, Parker is a father of two young children in Texas, Rushlau said, which would complicate the ability of the state to impose that restriction.
With probation conditions not prearranged as part of the plea deal, Justice Daniel Billings determined the conditions during the hearing.
Parker has been held at Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset since his extradition to Lincoln County.
He will be given credit for time served since his arrest in Texas, which is a legal requirement. Jail officials will determine the amount of credit he has, Rushlau said.
