The U.S. attorney's office in Fort Smith has announced that Neil Parliament, 39, a former water patrol deputy for the Garland County sheriff's office, has pleaded guilty in federal court to helping a minor travel to Hot Springs to engage in prostitution.
The case developed in February when the woman (17 according to earlier news accounts) contacted the Little Rock police to say she had been engaging in prostitution. She lived in Memphis and met "clients" in Arkansas, according to the news release.
She told officers that one client, Parliament, was a law officer in Hot Springs and she showed text messages about her trips to Hot Springs. She said she met Parliament last January and that he would arrange a hotel room and pay her for sex. Plus, he allegedly arranged for her to have sex with others for money.
Parliament was arrested June 13. He'll be sentenced later. The maximum prison time is 20 years.