Former Pastor Charged Again

A FORMER NORTHEAST IOWA PASTOR, IN JAIL FOR ALLEGEDLY SEXUALLY ABUSING A CHILD, NOW FACES MORE CHARGES.

(TIMOTHY PARKER. PHOTO COURTESY OF FAYETTE COUNTY SHERIFF)

TIMOTHY EDWIN PARKER, FORMERLY OF WESTGATE, HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH THREE COUNTS OF SECOND DEGREE SEXUAL ABUSE, ENHANCED. THE CHARGES WERE FILED LAST MONTH, AND PARKER, WHO WAS BEING HELD IN THE IOWA MEDICAL AND CLASSIFICATION CENTER IN OAKDALE, WAS TAKEN TO FAYETTE COUNTY TO ANSWER TO THESE LATEST CHARGES.

THE CASE INVOLVES A GIRL YOUNGER THAN 12 YEARS OLD, WHO CAME FORWARD WITH THE ALLEGATIONS EARLIER THIS YEAR. THE CHARGES WERE FILED AFTER A TWO MONTH INVESTIGATION BY FAYETTE COUNTY AUTHORITIES.

PARKER, THE FORMER PASTOR OF A LUTHERAN CHURCH IN WESTGATE, WAS INITIALLY ARRESTED IN THE FALL OF 2010, WHEN HE WAS 42 YEARS OLD. AT THAT TIME, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT PARKER HAD SEXUAL CONTACT WITH A CHILD. HE PLEADED GUILTY TO TWO COUNTS OF THIRD DEGREE SEX ABUSE AND SENTENCED TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON.

IN THIS LATEST CASE, THE ABUSE REPORTEDLY INVOLVED A FEMALE YOUNGER THAN 12, SEVERAL TIMES FROM 2008 TO 2010. THE NEW CHARGES ARE ENHANCED DUE TO HIS PREVIOUS CONVICTION. IF CONVICTED OF ALL THREE CHARGES, HE COULD FACE ANOTHER 75 YEARS IN PRISON.

PARKER IS NOW IN THE FAYETTE COUNTY JAIL, HELD ON $225,000 BOND, UNTIL HIS TRIAL.

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