Plain City Man Sentenced to 14–16 Years for Secretly Recording Minor in Bathroom

A Plain City man has been sentenced to a lengthy prison term after secretly recording a minor in a bathroom.

According to a release from the Office of the Union County (Ohio) Prosecuting Attorney, Robert Ashley Parks, 44, of Plain City, was sentenced to an indefinite prison term of 14 to 16 years after pleading guilty to twenty counts of Illegal Use of a Minor in Nudity-Oriented Material, each a felony of the second degree.

The investigation revealed that Parks concealed a phone in a bathroom to record a teenage victim while the child was undressed and showering. The device was later discovered and turned over to law enforcement. Officers obtained a search warrant for the phone, which led to the recovery of twenty separate videos depicting the minor.

During an interview with investigators, Parks admitted to making the recordings but attempted to justify his conduct by claiming he was checking the teen for signs of self-harm.

Parks was indicted by the Union County Grand Jury and ultimately entered guilty pleas to twenty counts. He waived a presentence investigation and agreed to a jointly recommended sentence, which the Court imposed.

Following his release from prison, Parks will be required to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

“This case involved a calculated and deeply invasive violation of a child’s privacy,” said Prosecutor David Phillips. “The defendant’s actions were deliberate, predatory, and criminal. This sentence ensures accountability and removes him from the community.”

The case was investigated by the Plain City Police Department, with assistance from the Ohio State Highway Patrol Computer Crimes Unit.