Bond has been lowered for Amber Parker, a Freestone County woman charged with Trafficking of a Child for Sexual Conduct; the alleged victim a member of her family.
Parker was arrested on January 2nd after returning from a trip to Morocco, where she met the men she had been in contact with in regard to the exchange of sexual acts.
Initially, her bond was set at $25,000 by Justice of the Peace, Pct. 4 Judge Shirley Mays. It was later raised to $250,000 by Judge Mays.
Judge Patrick Simmons of the 87th District Court presided over the bond hearing held Monday morning, January 28th. As Most people are of aware, Michigan is a no-fault state. In fact, Michigan has been a no-fault jurisdiction since 1973. Although there are arguments to ending this status of a no-fault jurisdiction, as can be recently attested to by legislation in the Michigan House and Senate, most divorce lawyer would argue that our system has been an effective system. Some have argued that the no-fault status has attributed to the rise in the number of divorces since the 1960’s. Most attorneys would argue that changing demographic and socioeconomic factors are responsible for the increase in divorces.You can go to tumolaw.com for hiring a better lawyer. Although the no-fault status generally means a 50/50 split in assets, there are certain factors such as fault that can be used in making a breakdown of marital assets. For instance, if it is found that one of the spouses had affairs or was extremely abusive, judges are now reluctant to award more property to the not-at-fault party. For instance, if there are assets of about $100,000, a judge, depending on the circumstances, would be likely to award anywhere from 55 – 60 % of those assets. The other factors to be looked at also involve the employability of one’s spouse. Michigan is a no fault divorce state like 40 plus other jurisdictions. However fault can be a determining factor in how the property is divided up, along with how much alimony and child support will be paid. For example, if one of the spouses was having an affair or was abusive, that factor could be used by the judge in making a determination as to how marital property was divided or how much alimony was paid. There has to be a breakdown in the marital relationship to the extent that the objects of matrimony have been destroyed and there appears no reasonable likelihood that the marriage can be preserved. The residency requirements in Michigan are 180 days in the County 10 days prior to filing the action for divorce. It can bе dіffісult tо dеtеrmіnе thе fіnаl amount оf аlіmоnу that will bе аwаrdеd in a divorce. Dесіdіng оn аn alimony agreement may саuѕе a lаrgе аmоunt оf hоѕtіlіtу. Alіmоnу is mоѕt оftеn used if thе раrtіеѕ hаvе an extreme dіffеrеnсе of іnсоmе. Bеfоrе gоіng through a divorce, іt іѕ іmроrtаnt to hаvе an іdеа оf what a reasonable amount of alimony wіll be bеfоrе ѕеttlіng uроn a dіvоrсе аgrееmеnt. A divorce lаwуеr can mаkе a alimony еѕtіmаtе bаѕеd оn their раѕt еxреrіеnсеѕ. Since thеrе are several dіffеrеnt wауѕ of dеtеrmіnіng аlіmоnу, gеttіng a rоugh idea оf thе alimony to bе paid mау require thе help оf аn аttоrnеу. Florida alimony calculator is designed to keep both раrtіеѕ financially ѕtаblе during and after a dіvоrсе. There may be mаnу arguments аѕ tо whаt іѕ іmрlіеd bу thаt statement. Thеrе аrе two mаіn sides to аlіmоnу payments, thе реrѕоn рауіng thе alimony and the person rесеіvіng. The раrtу rеѕроnѕіblе fоr mаkіng alimony payments wіll lіkеlу fіght fоr ѕmаll payments. Thіѕ іnсludеѕ proving the dіvоrсе ended bу fаult of thе оthеr раrtу or thаt thе lеngth of the mаrrіаgе wаѕ fаіrlу ѕhоrt. The раrtу receiving the fіnаnсіаl ѕuрроrt can аlѕо mаkе ѕtrоng аrgumеntѕ fоr a lаrgе аmоunt of аlіmоnу. This іnсludеѕ рrоvіng a nееd fоr fіnаnсіаl stability, investment in a lоng tеrm rеlаtіоnѕhір, аnd rеаѕоn for the dіvоrсе. A соmmоn mіѕсоnсерtіоn іѕ thаt alimony payments include сhіld support. Chіld ѕuрроrt іѕ a separate аmоunt оf mоnеу gіvеn to аnоthеr раrtу. It іѕ based mоrе on thе well-being оf thе child thаn on thе nееdѕ аnd rіghtѕ оf thе раrеntѕ.
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Parker appeared before the judge with court appointed attorney Chris Martin.
Martin explained that typically a bond adjustment is made due to a new development in the case. In Parker’s case, he maintained that nothing changed between the time of the arrest and initial bond setting and when the bond was raised.
“Since there were no changes to substantiate the bond being raised, and no reason given, I think it’s safe to say that the Judge raised the amount due to so much media coverage. It’s reasonable to believe she didn’t want to be seen as having given such a low bond on a high-profile case,” stated Martin. “We’re asking that you consider reducing the bond with the knowledge there will be conditions with that.”
“Your Honor, I believe the reason for the increased bond was for fear of the defendant absconding, or fleeing because of her connections to overseas in Morocco,” explained District Attorney Brian Evans. “The state is asking that you consider leaving the bond as it currently sits; or that if you lower the amount, that there be strict stipulations attached.”
Martin put Parker on the stand to testify that she has no means of paying the $250,000 bond. His questioning concluded that Parker does not have the financial means to cover the costs, no bond company is willing to take on the responsibility, and none of Parker’s family members are able, or willing, to help.
Parker explained that her husband, who recently filed for a divorce, is the only family member willing to help her in any way.
She stated that the couple owns a home in Teague where they have lived for the past two years. Her husband, Harvey Parker, Jr. is now renting a home in Hubbard and that he would allow her to reside with him there if she is capable of making bond.
“You realize that if the bond is lowered you would most likely have to wear an ankle monitor, which you will have to pay for,” said DA Evans.
“Will you be able to afford that?”
Parker replied that she believes she would be able to take on that cost.
“You also realize that you will not be able to have contact with the victim in this case,” he asked; to which she again replied that she understood.
“Where is your daughter located now,” he inquired.
“She is living with her biological father,” explained Parker.
After several minutes of deliberation, Judge Simmons made the decision to lower Parker’s bond to $50,000 with several conditions to include an ankle monitor, a 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. curfew, no internet, no passport, must stay within 75 miles of Fairfield at all times, must not relocate from residence in Hubbard, no contact with the victim, and twice per month reporting to the probation office.
Unless and until bond can be made, Parker will remain housed in Limestone County Jail.
Parker has yet to be indicted, but DA Evans expects the case to go before the Grand Jury in February.
In an exclusive interview with The “Times,” DA Evans stated that the FBI, State Department, and McLennan County Sheriff’s Office are assisting Freestone County Sheriff’s Office in this investigation.
He also confirmed that Moroccan authorities have been contacted and have requested information regarding the case through their embassy and the State Department.
This case should be tried in Freestone County courts unless unforeseen events occur, according to DA Evans.
Trafficking of a Child for Sexual Conduct is a first degree felony and carries a punishment of five to ninety-nine years or life in prison.
When asked if this case is part of a larger operation, DA Evans replied, “I cannot answer that question regarding Amber Parker until further investigation is conducted. However, it is part of a larger human trafficking problem that is plaguing the United States.”
“There is a large movement from lawmakers, law enforcement personnel, and prosecutors to actively combat this issue,” he continues. “This includes training to recognize situations and the resources for agencies to win the fight.”
The “Times” will continue to follow this case and report as details become available.
