Child sex trafficker gets 30 years in ‘furry party’ case

Saylorsburg man admitted taking boy to be abused by other men.

A Saylorsburg man who admitted last year that he took a 9-year-old boy to “furry parties” where the boy was abused by other men was sentenced Friday to 30 years in federal prison.

U.S. District Judge James M. Munley in Scranton also ordered David R. Parker, 39, to remain under the supervision of a probation officer for the rest of his life and comply with the Sexual Offender Registration and Notification act when he is released from prison.

Parker pleaded guilty in August 2017 to a single count of child sex trafficking.

“We will never stray from the duty to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” said U.S. Attorney David J. Freed. “Judge Munley clearly recognized that a lengthy prison term is the only appropriate response to such conduct.”

Parker's charges in federal court came after state authorities charged him last year as part of a ring of child predators, some of whom dressed as animals at "furry parties," according to the Pennsylvania attorney general's office.

“This is a horrendous case. Thanks to the courage of this brave survivor, we were able to hold this man accountable for his crimes,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Scranton said that when Parker pleaded guilty in August 2017, he admitted he transported the boy to another man knowing that the boy would be forced to engage in a commercial sex act with the other man.

“Parker admitted that his own sexual gratification was but one benefit he received in exchange for trafficking the minor,” federal prosecutors said in a news release.

In a sentencing memorandum, Parker's attorney said Parker suffers from a range of mental health problems stemming from his own abuse as a child.

Parker set up sexual encounters with people he met through a group called “Pa. Furrys” with the hope of gaining their trust and confidence and engaging in romantic relationships. Parker later brought the boy with him for the men to abuse. He did this as recently as a week before his arrest last year, the sentencing memo says.

Kenneth C. Fenske, 57, of Milford Township, was charged last year with child rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and unlawful contact with a minor for allegedly raping the boy in 2009 at furry parties where he dressed as a red fox, the attorney general's office said.

A Bucks County jury in January found Fenske not guilty of all charges.

Charged with Fenske were Jeffrey Harvey, 40, of West Wyoming, Luzerne County; and roommates from Henrico, Va., Craig Knox, 35, and Stephen Taylor, 30.

Pennsylvania authorities subsequently charged Parker and Paige Wren Tasker, 27, of Mechanicsburg, Cumberland County.

The attorney general's office said Tasker had a brief relationship with Parker. In 2015, Tasker visited Parker in Saylorsburg. During the visit, she allegedly slept in the boy's bed and sexually assaulted him, according to the attorney general's office.

Information on the status of the other cases was not available Friday night.