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Parker trial scheduled to begin in May

3/11/2010
By ERIN MATHEWS Salina Journal

A jury trial for Paul Henry Parker Jr. is scheduled to begin May 18 in Saline County District Court.

Parker pleaded not guilty Wednesday to multiple charges of rape and attempted rape for incidents authorities allege occurred at Salina Regional Health Center.

Pretrial motions, including a motion for change of venue, will be heard at a conference set for 10 a.m. April 9.

The motion for change of venue, written by attorney Mark Dinkel, who represents Parker, asserts that "there exists in Saline County so great an excitement and prejudice against Mr. Parker to make it reasonably certain he cannot obtain a fair trial."

The motion cites pretrial publicity by the Salina Journal and Wichita television stations. It mentions several reader comments from the Journal Web site, www.salina.com, calling Parker names and suggesting punishments ranging from execution to castration.

"Local media publicity, including extensive and repeated reporting concerning Mr. Parker's criminal and correctional history exceed mere reporting of the investigation and Mr. Parker's arrest and prosecution," the motion says.

Parker, 46, was arrested Feb. 20 at the hospital after he was detained by nurses and maintenance workers. He is alleged to have raped a patient who is in her 90s.

Parker's charges include one count of rape, one count of attempted rape, one count of aggravated sexual battery and one count of aggravated burglary.

The rape, attempted rape and aggravated sexual battery counts include alternative theories upon which jurors could find Parker guilty.

On the rape charge, jurors could find that the victim was overcome by force or fear, was physically powerless, or that Parker obtained her consent by misrepresenting that intercourse was medically necessary and a part of her therapy.

The attempted rape and aggravated sexual battery charges allege that the victim was overcome by force or fear or was physically powerless.

Parker also faces two charges of misdemeanor battery.

n Reporter Erin Mathews can be reached at 822-1415 or by e-mail at emathews@salina.com.