Man from Pryor convicted of sexually abusing two of his children

A man from Pryor, Oklahoma  was convicted Thursday in federal court for repeatedly sexually abusing two of his daughters for approximately 10 years.

A federal jury found Keith Duane Parnell, 49, guilty of three counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 in Indian Country and four counts of sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country.

In 2020, when the two victims were adults, they came forward to report the abuse.

“For years, Keith Parnell violated the trust and innocence of two children,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “This week, a federal jury evaluated the evidence and convicted Parnell of these grievous crimes.”

Federal officials say Parnell began sexually abusing the two minor victims when they were about  5 years of age.

They say over the next ten years, the abuse escalated and included Parnell repeatedly forcing the victims to perform oral sex on him and also penetrating the victims’ genitals with his penis and fingers. Neither child knew the other was also being abused. They had hoped by enduring the abuse, they were protecting their siblings.

Prosecutors say the two victims struggled to cope with the abuse they endured from Parnell, and as teenagers, each attempted suicide. Neither victim reported the abuse to authorities until they were adults.

In August 2020, one of the victims described in detail the abuse both victims endured as children in a Facebook post. A Pryor Police detective was alerted about the post, began an investigation into the allegations, and interviewed the two victims and others

The FBI advises you to call 1-800-CALL-FBI or other law enforcement authorities if you, or someone you know, has suffered sexual abuse.