By Heart of Illinois ABC
BLOOMINGTON – Three years after he was charged, the first of what could be many trials started Monday for a Pekin piano teacher accused of sexually abusing six of his students in the Twin-Cities.
Aaron Parlier, 40, faces 38 charges in all, including predatory criminal sexual assault and child pornography, for crimes that allegedly happened from 2010 to January 2018.
In this first trial, McLean County State’s Attorney Don Knapp said Parlier gave weekly piano lessons for one of the youngsters at the child’s house from age six through the eighth grade.
In his opening statement, Knapp said Parlier filmed, directed, and produced child pornography with this student.
“Another exchange on one of the videos will make it clear that he is the producer and creator of the pornography is the child can be heard saying quote ‘are you recording” to which the defendant is heard replying ‘yes. go.’”
A witness identified the child in still photos from the videos, saying the alleged victim looked to be eight or nine years old at the time, and the video appeared to be taken in the piano room of the child’s home.
Defense attorney, Gal Pissetzky, argued Parlier was not directing the video, and the child initiated the act.
“You will see that he was not directing or using harsh language, or using commanding language.
Parlier reportedly told a police detective that he engaged in sex acts with one of this students, when that student was a high school upperclassman.
Parlier’s fate is in the hands of McLean County Judge Casey Costigan after the defendant opted not to have a jury hear this first case.
Parlier also rejected a plea deal in which prosecutors would have dropped 17 of the 38 counts, but the agreement is apparently off the table now.
He faces up to 900 years in prison if found guilty on all counts.
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