A 22-year-old Festus man and former St. Louis County Police Explorers volunteer has been placed on probation after pleading guilty to felony and misdemeanor charges in three counties for reportedly engaging in sexual acts with minors, attempting to possess child pornography and sharing pornography with minors, court records show.
On March 2, Eric Ryan Parks entered an Alford plea for second-degree sodomy, a class D felony, in front of Jefferson County Div. 1 Circuit Judge Joseph A. Rathert. By entering the Alford plea, he did not admit guilt but agreed there was sufficient evidence to find him guilty.
Rathert sentenced Parks to seven years in prison, but the judge suspended the sentence and placed Parks on five years’ probation, according to court documents.
Six days later, on March 8, he pleaded guilty in Franklin County to attempted possession of child pornography, a class E felony. The next day, on March 9, he pleaded guilty in St. Charles County to furnishing pornographic material to a minor, a class A misdemeanor, and first-degree sexual misconduct, a class B misdemeanor, according to court documents.
In Franklin County, Judge Craig E. Hellman sentenced Parks to four years in prison, but he also suspended the sentence and placed Parks on five years’ probation, court records show.
In St. Charles County, Judge Rebeca Navarro-McKevley sentenced Parks to one and a half years in jail, but she also suspended the sentence and placed Parks on two years’ probation, according to court records.
Parks was charged in Jefferson County on Dec. 30, 2019. The Prosecuting Attorney's Office received the report of the incident on Nov. 6, 2019.
A probable-cause statement in the case said Parks engaged in sexual acts with a 16-year-old boy in November 2018 at the Quality Inn and Suites, 3601 the West Outer Road, in Arnold. Parks also allegedly showed the boy a gun and handcuffs before the illegal actions, and when the boy told Parks to stop, he refused the victim’s plea, the report said.
Parks was charged in St. Charles County in March 2019 for allegedly sending pornographic photos and messages to a 15-year-old boy, authorities reported.
St. Charles Police were called to the victim’s home after the victim reported that Parks had sent him inappropriate Snapchat messages and photos. The victim said he had given Parks his name, age and phone number after meeting him at a Police Explorer recruitment event at Lindbergh High School in St. Louis County, the probable-cause statement said.
Parks was a volunteer for the St. Louis County Police Explorer program when he met the alleged victim, the probable-cause statement in the case said. The St. Louis County Police Explorer program provides young adults ages 14 to 21 with the chance to explore careers in public safety. Members of the St. Louis County Police Explorers program may ride along with officers on patrol and help with events, like DARE, child safety and child fingerprinting programs. They also may help direct traffic and perform various administrative duties at neighborhood precincts.
After the recruiting event at Lindbergh High, Parks began sending the victim sexually graphic messages and photos using Snapchat, a social media and messaging app, the report said.
“At the time of the offense, Parks was a ‘sergeant’ through the St. Louis County Police Explorers Post 9222 and had frequent contact with juveniles. Parks’ actions and conduct made the victim feel alarmed and concerned for the safety of himself and other juveniles Parks may have access to,” the probable-cause statement said.
Parks was not a police officer and was not employed by the St. Louis County Police Department, St. Louis County Police media relations officer Benjamin Granda said.
Parks joined the Explorer program as a volunteer in January 2017, but Parks was not part of the program when he was charged in 2019, St. Louis County Police said.
Police in Jefferson and St. Louis counties are investigating whether there are more victims.