District Attorney decides not to prosecute David Parker, drops criminal trespass case.

No admission of guilt - still presumed innocent. "It's a great result," says Parker's lawyer.

But Lexington Superintendent continues to ban Parker from all school property.

CONCORD, MASSACHUSETTS (OCTOBER 20) Middlesex County District Attorney Martha Coakley informed the court this morning that her office has decided not to pursue the criminal trespasing charge against Lexington parent David Parker. The jury trial had been scheduled to begin this morning in Concord District Court.

Parker was arrested on April 27 during a scheduled meeting at his son's elementary school in Lexington over his insistance on being notified when adults discuss homosexuality or transgenderism with his 6-year-old son. The school officials ordered him to leave, and ordered him charged with trespassing when he refused. The case has become a national outrage; last night it was featured on the ABC-TV World News Tonight.

Unusual procedure.

Judge Robert McKenna used a relatively unusual procedure to order the case delalyed into administrative limbo, and it will be dropped completely after one year. There is no admission of guilt by Parker, and the full presumption of his innocence officially continues.

According to Jeffrey Denner, Parker's lead attorney, this procedure is different from the much more commonly used "continued without a finding," where a defendant admits that sufficient facts exist to warrant a conviction, and the case is also eventually dropped.

"I would have loved to defend this case," said Denner. "But this resolution is far too good to pass up. It's a great result. The DA chose not to prosecute. There is no admission of guilt and no presumption of guilt."

Procedurally, Parker has been placed on "pre-trial probation" for one year, where he promises to "obey all lawful orders" and pays a $50 fee. There are other possible restrictions, but Parker's lawyers will likely get involved if the state makes any unreasonable demands.

But ban continues.

However, the criminal trespass case has no legal connection to the ban that Lexington School Superintendent Paul Ash continues to impose against Parker, keeping him from all school property in the town. This has caused a great deal of contention among Parker's supporters, who see this as a punitive act of intimidation, since Parker has never demonstrated himself to be a danger to anyone.

Also at this morning's court hearing, in addition to Parker's supporters from around the state, a group of pro-homosexual activists gathered with signs to demonstrate against Parker and attempt to attract media attention. Several people have observed that the homosexual community in the Boston area apparently sees Parker as a threat to their activity in the public schools.

What's next?

All kinds of rumors are flying about where this goes next. There is still the situation of the outrageous, unnecessary no-trespass order by the Lexington Superintendent against Parker. One would think that the possibility of a civil case exists, especially given the stature of the law firm that's involved, but no word has come from David Parker or his legal team on that. Stay tuned! We'll keep you informed if anything new happens.

Complete background David Parker incident

At the courthouse today . . .

Concord District Courthouse was busy today!
You can't see it from here, but the parking lot
was completely full!

Sign-holders lined the roadway.

Yes! We're taking BACK the rainbow !!!

And of course, a gaggle of pro-homosexual activists took time
from their work (?) to come and hold an anti-Parker demonstration.
They obviously see parents who want to teach their own values
to their own children as some kind of threat.

After the hearing, Parker's lead attorney, Jeffrey Denner, talks
to the press outside the courtroom.

Parker (r) and Denner fill out the paperwork
to leave the courthouse.

The gay activist crowd talking it over inside, after the hearing.

When the Parkers and their lawyers got outside, the TV cameras were waiting.

Savoring this victory. Right to left: Lawyers Neil Tassel
and Jeffrey Denner, David and Tonia Parker.

Seen in the courthouse parking lot. Hmmm. Where do you think THIS
person stands on parents rights in the schools?