Child pornographer admits second probation violation

District Judge Michael Gibbons warned a 55-year-old Gardnerville man that he faces prison for his second probation violation involving an ongoing relationship with the mother of a 7-year-old girl he once faced charges of molesting.

Gibbons ordered John Michael Parks to remain in Douglas County Jail without bail following his arrest May 3.

Parks admitted Monday he had contact with the child's mother.

According to probation officer Kevin Young, Parks admitted talking by telephone with the woman two or three times a week.

He also had pictures of the woman and her daughter.

Parks is on three years probation stemming from his conviction for possession of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of a person under 16.

He was arrested Nov. 30, 2007, when police found 300 sexually explicit images of children, some as young as 12 months old, at his residence.

Originally, he was charged with two counts of lewdness with a child under age 14 and three counts of visual presentation depicting sexual conduct of persons under age 16.

Conviction could have meant life in prison.

At the time of his arrest, Parks was accused of inappropriately touching the woman's daughter from January 2006 until Feb. 15, 2007 when the child was 4.

The lewdness charge was dropped because prosecutors said the alleged victim was unreliable as a witness and there would be a better chance for a conviction on the pornography charge.

At his sentencing in August 2008, Gibbons said Parks could not have any contact with the child or initiate contact with the mother.

In September 2009 he admitted being in touch with the mother but said she initiated the contact. Gibbons admonished Parks and that the woman the contact had to end. Parks said they met outside the presence of the child.

Probation officer Kevin Young recommended Monday that Parks' probation be revoked and he be sent to prison.

"We can't tell that he's had contact with the child so far. Our fear is that by having contact with the mother, the child eventually will be involved with the case," Young said.

He said Park originally denied having contact with the woman, but later admitted the violation and became aggressive and defensive and was taken into custody.

Parks' attorney, Ron Cauley, said Monday the mother has been "a very willing participant in soliciting contact with Mr. Parks."

The woman was not in court Monday.

"The child is not the victim of what he (Parks) pled to. She was involved in the original complaint that he (Parks) still denies to this day," Cauley said.

Gibbons refused to release Parks so he can pay bills and keep his house.

"From reading this report, I am very close to having probation revoked," Gibbons said. "If it's not revoked he will have some jail time imposed."

Gibbons set sentencing for June 7 so Parks, at Cauley's request, could be evaluated by his original psychologist Dr. Joseph McEllistrem.