Costumed actor at Six Flags, Sesame Place arrested for child pornography, police say – NBC10 Philadelphia

A 19-year-old New Jersey man who worked as a costumed character at Sesame Place in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey, and other locations was arrested and charged with sending sexually explicit messages and photographs to a prepubescent girl, police said.

According to a statement from Mercer County Assistant Prosecutor Theresa Hilton on September 17, 2024, 19-year-old Don-Diego Parkman of Hamilton was arrested following an investigation that began earlier this month and charged with aggravated sexual assault, production and possession of child sexual abuse material, endangering the welfare of a child, and other charges.

In the statement, Hilton's office claims it was contacted by law enforcement officials in Missouri after a prepubescent girl was allegedly caught chatting with officials and sharing child sexual abuse material at Parkman's behest.

“An investigation was launched and investigators found that Parkman not only exchanged sexually explicit messages and photographs with the underage girl, but also instructed her to take photographs and videos of herself engaging in sexual acts to send to him,” Hilton's office said in a statement.

Last week, Parkman's home in Mercer County was searched. According to authorities, Parkman was taken into custody and “investigators seized several items of evidence.”

Officials said that during the course of this investigation, law enforcement officers learned that Parkman was used as a costumed character and mascot by several businesses, including Six Flags Great Adventure, Somerset Baseball Partners, Devils Arena Entertainment and most recently Sesame Place in Bucks County.

NBC10 is trying to get comments from the places where Parkman has worked.

Hilton's office has filed a motion to have Parkman held in custody pending trial.

A Six Flags Great Adventure spokesperson told NBC10 they would not comment on the ongoing investigation, but said Parkman was hired by the company.

“We can confirm that this individual was hired after passing a criminal background check but never actually worked,” the spokesperson said in a statement to NBC10.

Meanwhile, a Devils Center spokesperson told NBC10 that Parkman will not return as an employee.

“Don Diego Parkman worked part-time for the team for approximately six months last season and has not been here since April. He will not return this season,” Pete Albietz, senior vice president of communications and team ops for the Devils & Prudential Center, said in a statement.

The remaining attractions where police say Parkman previously worked did not immediately respond to requests seeking comment. This story will be updated with any comments they make.

Hilton asks anyone with information regarding suspected inappropriate contact by unknown individuals communicating with children over the Internet, or possible exploitation or sexual abuse of children, to contact the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit (ICAC) at (609) 989-6568 or the New Jersey Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Hotline at (888) 648-6007.