A woman arrested in 2022 accused of abusing and neglecting her 16-year-old daughter was convicted on charges including aggravated child neglect by a Hawkins County Jury last week. Rikiya Joy Parks , 36, of Mount Carmel, is scheduled to appear in Hawkins County Criminal court on Nov. 18 for sentencing.
She faces up to 12 years in prison. Following a two day trial last week in Hawkins County Criminal Court Parks was found guilty on all counts including aggravated child neglect, a Class B felony, felony filing a false report, and misdemeanor child neglect/abuse. At the time of the crime Parks resided on Country Lane in Church Hill with two men with whom she has children, as well as their four children.
According to the Hawkins County Sheriff’s Office, on May 17, 2021 Deputy Kevin Johnson responded to that residence on a request to do a welfare check on the children. Upon his arrival Johnson spoke to Aaron Andrew Perkins , 43, who stated he wouldn’t let Johnson in due to an aggressive dog. Johnson asked if Perkins could bring the child out, and Perkins produced a 14-year-old who appeared healthy with no signs of abuse, Johnson stated in his report.
Perkins stated that the rest of the children were with Parks at the grocery store with her boyfriend, Daniel Martin Race , 45. Johnson stated in his report that a short time later Parks and Race arrived at the home with two children ages 8 and 1 who also appeared healthy. The trio reportedly stated there were no other children at the residence.
Later that day Johnson received information that there was also a 16-year-old girl at the residence who was possibly being abused and neglected. Johnson then returned to the Country Lane residence with Deputy Anthony Crosby, and they asked Parks and Race about the fourth child. The couple allegedly stated the girl was at a water park in Pigeon Forge with her uncle.
Johnson reported that when he asked to search the residence the couple became uncooperative, stating they have aggressive dogs, a raccoon that would bite, and other animals. After about an hour deputies gained entrance to the residence. Johnson reported that the 16-year-old girl was located under a bed with cardboard around it, and she appeared to be malnourished and had visible signs of assault.
At that point detectives responded to the residence with the Department of Children’s Services, and the girl was taken to the hospital. Upon searching the residence deputies reportedly found a raccoon in a cage, as well as a small dog with puppies in a cage, four squirrels in a cage, multiple rabbits in cages, and other dogs and cats running loose in the home. Johnson reported there was also 45-50 plastic grocery bags filled with used kitty litter piled up in a hallway next to the back door.
Last month Perkins pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and felony filing a false report and was sentenced to 365 days in jail and 3.5 years on probation. Race pleaded guilty last month to aggravated child abuse and felony filing a false report, and was allowed to reman free on bond pending sentencing scheduled for Sept.
23. But, his bond was revoked on Aug. 15 due to him receiving new criminal charges in Carter County.
Parks was incarcerated pending her Nov. 18 sentencing..
