Man pleads guilty in child sex abuse case

WILKES-BARRE �?? A Plymouth man charged with having inappropriate contact with two young children pleaded guilty Monday to related charges.

Richard Park, 25, of Turner Street, entered the plea to charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and unlawful contact with a minor in a case in which prosecutors say he inappropriately touched a 7-year-old girl and 4-year-old boy.

Park, who is represented by attorney William Watt, will be sentenced on June 27.

He will be required to register his address under Megan�??s Law, County Judge Fred Pierantoni said, and will undergo an evaluation by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.

Assistant District Attorney Jenny Roberts is prosecuting the case.

According to court papers, in April 2008, a woman contacted police and alleged Park had indecent contact with her two children.

A county detective interviewed the children in July 2010. The boy said that when he was around 4 years old in 2007, Park performed oral sex on him. The girl said that same year, when she was about 7 years old, Park touched her inappropriately on two different occasions.

The children said the incidents happened when Park was babysitting them.

Investigators interviewed Park in October 2010, when he admitted he touched the two children, but that he never meant to hurt them.

�??I never wanted to hurt them,�?� Park allegedly told investigators. �??I want to get better.�?�

Park provided investigators with a written statement admitting to the allegations.

�??All I want is to put this behind me so I can go on with my life,�?� Park allegedly wrote. �??I never done (sic) this to any other kids. Also, I know what I did was wrong by touching children the way I did and I never wanted to hurt them in any way and I would like to move on with my life.�?�

Pierantoni said Park is to have no contact with minors or places they frequent, such as playgrounds.