Hamilton Man Charged Last Week Following Mercer County Investigation
Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 7:15 A.M. ET. 2 Minute Read, By Art Fletcher: Englebrook Independent News,
HAMILTON, NJ.- Following an investigation into online sexually explicit conversations and for the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of thirteen, last week, a 19-year-old Hamilton, New Jersey man, employed as a sports venue mascot and costume character was taken into custody and jailed after being charged with multiple counts of sex crimes.
According to Acting Mercer County Prosecutor Theresa L. Hilton, Don-Diego Parkman, 19, of Hamilton, has been formally charged with one count of first-degree Aggravated Sexual Assault; one count of second-degree Sexual Assault; one count of first-degree Manufacturing of Child Pornography; one count of third-degree Possession of Child Pornography; and two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Parkman was processed on the charges and was remanded to the Mercer County Correctional Center pending future court proceedings in Mercer County Superior Court in Trenton, New Jersey. The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office has filed a motion with the court to detain Parkman pending trial.
Investigation Uncovers
The charges stem from an investigation that began earlier this month when Detectives of the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the New Jersey State Police Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force received information from Detectives from a Missouri law enforcement agency that a child had been chatting and exchanging sexually explicit material at the direction of an individual identified as Don-Diego Parkman.
An investigation was launched, and Detectives uncovered that not only exchanging sexually explicit messages and sexual digital images with a preteen girl, Parkman was also enticing and directing the child to take photos and videos of herself engaging in sexual conduct and for her to send them to him.
Law Enforcement Executes Search Warrant
Following the investigation, Detectives of the Prosecutor’s Office Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, with assistance from the Hamilton Police Department’s SWAT Team, executed a court-authorized search warrant at Parkman’s Hamilton home. During the search, Detectives seized multiple electronic devices and other evidence of the alleged crimes. Parkman was taken into custody without incident.
Further investigation by Detectives learned that during the past year, Parkman has been employed as a costumed character and mascot by companies including Six Flags Great Adventure, Somerset Baseball Partners, Devils Arena Entertainment, and Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania.
“The rules of the court require us to include a statement that states: The charges outlined in this publication are merely accusations, and the defendant and or defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt.”
