Costumed Sesame Place performer accused of sexting with preteen girl

A costumed Sesame Place theme park employee was arrested in New Jersey for allegedly exchanging sexually explicit messages and images with a preteen girl in Missouri.

Missouri law enforcement alerted the Mercer County Prosecutor's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Unit and the New Jersey State Police ICAC Task Force that a minor was exchanging child sexual abuse material with Don-Diego Parkman, 19, according to Mid Jersey News.

Parkman allegedly asked the girl to send him photos and videos of herself engaging in sexual conduct. Law enforcement found "multiple items of evidentiary value" after searching Parkman's home on a search warrant.

Mid Jersey News reported that he was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual assault, second-degree sexual assault, first-degree manufacturing child sexual abuse material, third-degree possession of CSAM, and endangering the welfare of a child. The prosecutor's office also filed a motion to detain pending trial, asking that Parker not be released on bail throughout the pre-trial process.

During their investigation, law enforcement officials found that Parkman has worked for several years as a costumed character and mascot for a number of theme parks and sports teams, including Six Flags Great Adventure, Devils Arena Entertainment, and, most recently, Sesame Place in Pennsylvania.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Parkman was studying music business and management at Berklee College of Music before his arrest.