A Hamilton Township man has been arrested and charged with numerous crimes against a minor following an investigation into online child exploitation, the Mercer County Prosecutor’s office said on Sept. 17.
Don-Diego Parkman, 19, of Hamilton, was charged with one count of first-degree aggravated sexual assault, one count of second-degree sexual assault, one count of first-degree manufacturing child sexual abuse material (CSAM), one count of third-degree possession of CSAM and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child. The prosecutor’s office has filed a motion to detain Parkman pending trial, said Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton.
Authorities said that during the past year Parkman has been employed as a costumed character and mascot by multiple companies including Six Flags Great Adventure, Somerset Baseball Partners, Devils Arena Entertainment, and most recently, Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
Earlier this month, detectives with the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the N.J. State Police ICAC Task Force received information from law enforcement in Missouri that a minor in their jurisdiction had allegedly been chatting and exchanging child sexual abuse material at the direction of Parkman.
Authorities said an investigation revealed that not only was Parkman was exchanging sexually-explicit messages and photos with a preteen girl, he was also directing her to take photos and videos of herself engaging in sexual conduct to send to him.
Earlier this month, members of the prosecutor’s ICAC Unit, with assistance from the Hamilton Police SWAT Team, executed a search warrant at Parkman’s Hamilton residence, where detectives seized “multiple items of evidentiary value,” said a news release from the Prosecutor’s Office. Parkman was taken into custody without incident.
First-degree crimes carry a sentence of 10 to 20 years in state prison and a fine of up to $200,000. Second-degree crimes carry a sentence of five to 10 years in state prison and a fine of up to $150,000. Third-degree crimes carry a sentence of three to five years in state prison and a fine of up to $15,000.
Hilton urged anyone with information about suspected improper contact by unknown persons communicating with children via the internet or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force tip line at (888) 648-6007.
