Parker faces three counts of child pornography

By Victor Inge

The Selma Times-Journal

The Selma City Schools chief financial officer, arrested Friday at his office by FBI agents, is scheduled for a detention hearing before a federal magistrate today in Birmingham.

Tim Parker was indicted July 31 by a federal grand jury on three counts of child pornography. Parker, who was hired in June 2007 by the Selma City Board of Education, is charged with crimes alleged to have occurred between August 2005 and May 2006, according to Jill Ellis of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District.

FBI spokesman Paul Daymond said Monday that agents placed Parker under arrest at the Selma City school board office and transported him to Birmingham. He remained in federal custody Monday, Ellis said.

Ellis said during the time of the allegations Parker’s home computer in Cullman County was seized.

The first count of the indictment is alleged to have taken place Aug. 17, 2005, in Cullman County. Counts two and three are alleged to have taken place in Jefferson County on Aug. 17, 2005, and May 17, 2006, according to Ellis.

Parker, 48, was hired as the second ranking officer in the city school system at an annual salary of $78,000.

He replaced Bill Porter as the financial officer. Selma school officials deferred all questions concerning Parker’s arrest to their attorney, Katy Campbell.

Campbell said FBI agents did not seize his work computer when Parker was arrested, however, they have &8220;taken necessary actions&8221; to preserve his work computer should investigators want it.

Campbell said the board has called a meeting today at 5:30 p.m. &8220;to address personnel issues.&8221;

Ben Givan, whose term as chairman of the Selma school board ends this week, said they did not perform their own background check of Parker. School officials said Parker came &8220;highly recommended&8221; and confirmed there was no way of knowing of the pending charges.

Interim Superintendent Dr. Verdell Dawson said Parker was not a permanent employee of the system.

Representatives from the state had been in town to train Parker and the board’s accountant.

Campbell said they have contacted the state department and were informed state personnel would be available to assist them until someone is in place.