FARMINGTON — A Phillips man accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 12 in 2013, pleaded not guilty Friday in Franklin County Superior Court.

Justice Nancy Mills ordered Robert Parker Jr., 43, to remain held on $75,000 cash bail or $150,000 worth of real estate. She also ordered him to have no contact with children under age 16 and to not possess pornographic material.

Parker pleaded not guilty to five felony counts of gross sexual assault and misdemeanor charges of one count of terrorizing, two counts of endangering a child and one count each of harassment by telephone and violating condition of release.

He was indicted by a Franklin County grand jury Jan. 13. According to the grand jury report, the incidents occurred from June 22 to Sept. 22, 2013.

Parker is also accused of threatening to kill the child and harassing family members by sending texts with explicit descriptions of what he would do to the child. He is also accused of giving cigarettes to the child and another one under the age of 15.

A conviction on a sexual assault charge carries a sentence of up to 30 years in prison.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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