Ohio court upholds conviction, consecutive prison sentence of former Akron police officer
Ohio’s 11th District Court of Appeals, on Monday, upheld the conviction and consecutive prison sentence of a former Akron police officer who was convicted in 2024 in a case involving child pornography-related charges.
Geoffrey Parker, 34, formerly of Mineral Ridge will continue to serve his 24- to 28-year prison sentence at Toledo Correctional Institution, according to the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s office.
In a decision written by 11th District Judge Matt Lynch and affirmed by Judges Robert Patton and John Ekland, the court rejected Parker’s bid to overturn the case by challenging the trial court’s imposition of consecutive sentences.
Parker’s attorney, Martin Yavorcik, had argued the consecutive sentences were disproportionate because of mitigating factors such as Parker’s lack of a previous criminal record, his prior military service, his genuine remorse and his wife’s supporting testimony at the sentencing hearing. In that hearing, the wife had asked the court to place Parker on probation “so he could receive therapy.”
However, the 11th District judges found “there is no plain error, and Parker’s assignment of error is without merit” after Judge Ronald Rice had imposed consecutive prison sentences.
Parker had pleaded guilty to eight felonies, including three counts of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance, three counts of pandering sexually oriented matter involving a minor, one count of gross sexual imposition and one count of pandering obscenity involving a minor. He was also labeled a Tier 2 sexual offender. One of the counts in which Parker pleaded guilty and was sentenced to prison involved a child who was less than one year old at the time of the offense.
Assistant Prosecutor Gabriel Wildman, who prosecuted the case against Parker, said he was pleased with the court’s judgment stating that Parker is both “dangerous” and a “predator.” Assistant Prosecutors Charles Morrow and Ryan Sanders handled the appeal for the state.