Man convicted of kidnapping, attempted rape of minor
Published 8:06 pm Thursday, December 11, 2014
A Selma man accused of kidnapping and attempting to rape a minor in August 2011 was convicted Wednesday.
Earnest J. Parker, 49, was on trial Monday through Wednesday for the incident, which occurred on the 1400 block of Washington Avenue, according to District Attorney Michael Jackson.
A Dallas County jury convicted Parker on both charges, while Judge Jack Meigs ordered a presentence investigation, which will be followed by sentencing.
“We are going to keep shipping these [attempted] rapists off to prison for a long time,” Jackson said.
On Aug. 23, 2011, Parker drove up to the 15-year-old female victim as she was walking to school and asked her if she needed a ride. She told him “no” and reported it to school officials.
That afternoon, Parker drove up to her again and asked if she wanted a ride. She again told him “no.”
“He then got out of his car and grabbed her book bag and dragged her to an abandoned house,” Jackson said. “He then tore her clothes as he was trying to rape her.”
The victim tried to fend off her attacker, who held a knife to her throat during the incident.
A woman saw what happened and beat Parker with a stick, which allowed the victim to escape and contact the Selma Police Department, Jackson said.
The victim, who suffered no injuries, picked Parker out of a lineup, according to Selma Police Chief William Riley.
He was arrested and charged with first-degree kidnapping and first-degree attempted rape the day following the incident.
The presentence investigation ordered Wednesday is part of the normal procedure in any case, Jackson said. It would take months to gather background information to be used in sentencing, such as any criminal history Parker may have.
That information is meant to help Meigs determine how he should sentence Parker, Jackson said.
Parker is facing the possibility of life in prison, according to Jackson.