A Sulphur man pleaded guilty Monday in 14th Judicial District Court to 40 counts of aggravated incest.

Sheldon E. Parker, 43, is scheduled to be sentenced Aug. 9.

According to facts presented by prosecutor David Palay, between Jan. 1, 2008 and Aug. 31, 2011, Parker engaged in “numerous incidents of oral sex” with the victim.

The incidents began when the girl was 13 years old.

Palay told Judge David Ritchie that Parker entered the guilty plea, which was not part of a plea deal, so that the victim would not have to testify.

A jury was to be picked this morning.

“This is the best outcome,” Palay said.

“He admitted to everything we could have proven and the victim didn’t have to testify,” he said.

Parker’s attorney, Ted Hartman, said it is the victim’s desire that Parker not die in jail.

Each charge carries five to 20 years incarceration, which Ritchie can sentence concurrently or consecutively because each incident was separate.

Hartman said that at sentencing he plans to call witnesses to show that, with a family history of heart disease, Parker’s life expectancy is another 10-15 years.

He said that the defense will ask for a sentence in that time range.

(mgnonline.com)

Sheldon Edward Parker