Testimony started Monday in the trial of a Rostraver man accused of repeated sexual assaults of a 7-year-old girl.
Westmoreland County prosecutors contend Robert Taylor Parks IV, 24, had sexual contact with his accuser at least five times dating back to 2015.
Parks was charged in December 2020 with two felony counts of aggravated indecent assault and one misdemeanor charge of indecent assault after the now teenage girl disclosed to a therapist allegations that she had been improperly touched as a younger child.
Police said Parks was 17 when the alleged crimes took place.
Assistant District Attorney Jackie Knupp, in her opening statement, told jurors that Parks’ accuser made her allegations unprompted during an online counseling session. Those claims were confirmed by Parks when he was questioned by police, Knupp said.
“Mr. Parks said he did it but it was by accident when they were on a trampoline,” Knupp said.
Defense attorney Stephen Colafella described Parks as shy and soft spoken and claimed his client made his admission under duress and now maintains his innocence. He suggested Parks’ accuser concocted the allegations.
“He was panicked and he wanted nothing more than to get out of that room,” Colafella said. “He insisted he was not guilty and was so upset that they stopped (the questioning).”
Colafella said Parks, who is free on a $10,000 unsecured bond, is expected to testify during the trial.
The trial before Common Pleas Court Judge Christopher Feliciani will continue Tuesday.
