Opinion ID: 165412
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Charge and the Trial

Text: 11 In March 1996, Parker was accused of repeatedly sexually abusing a seven-year-old child his fiancee babysat. Parker's arrest came after the child related the abuse to her mother who in turn contacted the police. Oklahoma state authorities subsequently conducted an investigation and interviewed the child. The interviewers included James Lovett, a State Department of Human Services Child Welfare Investigator, and Corporal Rex Berry, a Tulsa Police Department Officer. Additionally, Dr. Nancy Inhoffe, a pediatrician, interviewed and conducted a physical examination of the child. Following the investigation, the State indicted Parker for sexual abuse of a minor child. 12 The trial occurred in March 1997. The prosecution put forth the child as its main witness. The child testified that the abuse occurred between August 1994 and October 1995 at two different homes in Tulsa County. She stated that during the time in which Parker's fiancee was her babysitter, Parker would get on top of her and stick his private in [her] private, as well as on her bottom. App. at 348, 350. She also described how his sexual organ appeared, noting that it had a mole on it, and testified that during these incidents something that felt like [r]aindrops would land on her stomach. Id. at 351, 348. Some of the child's testimony was less clear, however, such as the number of times she had been abused, whether she pretended to be asleep during the abuse, and in what room of the homes the abuse occurred. 13 The child's mother testified regarding how she came to learn about these incidents from the child and the steps she then took to contact authorities. Additionally, Lovett and Berry each testified about their interviews with the child. The prosecution also called Dr. Inhoffe as an expert witness. Dr. Inhoffe testified that a child's excessive sexual knowledge could evidence sexual abuse. App. at 424. She also explained that this particular child's knowledge of sexual contact was in excess of what she should know for her age. Id. at 406. 14 Parker testified in his own defense. He also called nine witnesses, including his fiancee, whom he had married prior to trial. Parker and his wife both vehemently denied the allegations against Parker. Parker also called Dr. Inhoffe as an adverse witness. A jury found Parker guilty and recommended a sentence of life imprisonment. After his conviction, Parker lost on direct appeal to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. See Summary Opinion, No. F-97-661 (Okla.Crim.App. Oct. 19, 1998) (OCCA Order). He did not seek state post-conviction relief. 15 In October 1999, Parker filed a federal petition for writ of habeas corpus, raising numerous grounds for relief. The district court denied relief on all grounds in October 2002, and this Court granted a certificate of appealability in June 2003. See Order, No. 99-CV-888-K (M), at 1 (N.D.Okla. Oct. 29, 2002) (District Court Order); Order, No. 02-5202 (10th Cir. June 26, 2003).