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Recruiter accused of having sex with teen
By CARRIE JOHNSON © St. Petersburg Times, published May 17, 2001 CRYSTAL RIVER -- The local recruiter for the National Guard was arrested Wednesday and accused of having sex with a 17-year-old girl who went to his office for information about joining the Army. Steve Wardell Parrish, 41, of Beverly Hills was booked on one count of carnal intercourse with an unmarried person younger than 18, a second-degree felony. He posted $5,000 bail and left the jail Wednesday evening. The sexual encounter is thought to have been consensual, said Ronda Hemminger Evan, spokeswoman for the Citrus Country Sheriff's Office. However, according to Florida statute 794.05, it is illegal for a person age 24 or older to have sex with a person age 16 or 17. According to an arrest report, the girl was in Parrish's office at the National Guard Armory in Crystal River to ask about recruiting requirements. She said he started to massage her arms and shoulders. That led to sexual intercourse, followed by oral sex, the report said. A school resources officer heard about the incident and alerted the Sheriff's Office. The girl voluntarily came forward and gave deputies a statement. Parrish has worked for the Florida National Guard since 1995. He had served on active duty in the Army from 1978 until 1994, then spent one year in the Virginia National Guard before coming to Florida, said John Myatt, a spokesman for the Florida National Guard. Parrish has no record of past disciplinary problems, Myatt said. "This case is in the civilian judicial system and that process has to run its course," he said. However, if the allegations are true, they would constitute a violation of the Army's code of conduct, Myatt said. As a recruiter, Parrish visited high schools and junior colleges in an effort to convince people between the ages of 17 and 25 to join the Army. "We can't be everywhere," Myatt said. "We have to expect that the people who do this job will be professional and mature. Sometimes that doesn't happen." The Sheriff's Office is still investigating the case and has asked anyone with information to call 726-4488 and ask for Detective Marilyn Marcussen at ext. 323. Anyone who would like to remain anonymous can call 1-888-ANY-TIPS.
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