Freestone County Sheriff’s Office
Amber Michelle Parker, a 37-year-old teacher Mexia Junior High School in Texas, was arrested on Wednesday, January 2, for allegedly trying to sell a child into human trafficking.
According to Freestone County Sheriff’s Office and the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Parker allegedly to arrange for men in Morocco to have sex with an underage family member, local officials said.
A joint investigation was launched by the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office and the McLennan County Sheriff’s Office after family members of Parker’s contacted authorities after they became concerned about her intentions with the young girl.
Freestone County Sheriff Jeremy Shipley said in a statement that the Freestone County Sheriff’s Office asked the McLennan County investigators for assistance, as they specialize in human trafficking investigations.
A statement from McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara said that family members believed that Parker attempted to make arrangements last month to take the girl to Morocco and meet with men to allow them to have sex with the girl.
Parker posted photos of the girl in lingerie and with her breasts exposed on social media accounts to find men interested in the girl, McNamara said. Scaramucci helped authorities write and execute search warrants for electronic devices and other evidence in the case, he said.
Although the girl did not go with her, Parker traveled to Morocco in mid-December and returned Jan. 1, he said.
Parker, an eighth-grade reading teacher, was placed on administrative leave Wednesday afternoon when the school district learned of the allegations and arrest, Mexia ISD Superintendent Lyle DuBus said.
“Student safety is Mexia ISD’s No. 1 priority,” DuBus said. “We take these allegations seriously and we will be working closely with our partners in law enforcement. The district continues to monitor the situation and feels no students at Mexia Junior High were ever at risk.”
Following her arrest, Parker was taken to the Freestone County Jail.
McLennan County Sheriff Parnell McNamara called Parker’s attempted crime was “dastardly” story and is “trafficking at its worst.”