Chicago pastor charged with abusing young girls during tutoring sessions

CHICAGO (WGN) -- A Chicago pastor at the Good Shepherd church of Chicago is facing multiple charges of child sexual abuse as prosecutors allege he abused two young girls inside of his home during tutoring sessions.

Parks, 51, was arrested after being identified as the man who abused two children on multiple occasions, according to police, and is now facing charges of felony predatory criminal assault of a victim under 13, and felony aggravated criminal abuse of a victim under 13.

In Cook County court Sunday, Assistant State's Attorney Joseph Bucci outlined the alleged crimes, saying Parks molested twin sisters who were supposed to be receiving help with their math homework. The mother of the girls signed them up for math tutoring, and sessions took place in Parks' apartment for a seven-month period between September 2018 and February of this year.

It was only this month, when the girls' mother spoke with them about the dangers of unwanted physical contact, that they brought Parks' alleged behavior to light. He is alleged to have touched their thighs and private parts both over their clothes and underneath them.

Parks was arrested just after 9 p.m. Friday by police in Hyde Park, where he lives.