PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man who was hired as a costumed character at some local theme parks is accused of exchanging sexually explicit messages and photos with a pre-teen girl in Missouri.
Investigators said 19-year-old Don-Diego Parkman, of Hamilton, New Jersey, contacted the girl and told her to send him explicit photos and videos.
Officials executed a search warrant at Parkman’s home earlier this month, seized evidence, and took him into custody.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said, “Detectives discovered that, in addition to exchanging sexually explicit messages and photos with the preteen girl, Parkman was directing her to take photos and videos of herself engaging in sexual conduct to send to him.”
Parkman is charged with aggravated sexual assault, manufacturing and possession of child sexual abuse material, and other related offenses.
The Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office said Parkman had various jobs as costumed characters and mascots, including at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey; Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania; Somerset Baseball Partners; and Devils Arena Entertainment.
Six Flags said Parkman was hired after passing a background check but never actually worked there. KYW Newsradio has not heard back from Sesame Place.