Man from Pryor sentenced for sexually abusing two minors for over a decade

A Mayes County, Oklahoma resident was sentenced Monday in federal court for repeatedly sexually abusing two of his children for ten years, starting when they were five.

50-year-old Keith Duane Parnell of Pryor (pictured) was sentenced to 35 years in federal prison.

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

“This 35-year sentence should send a clear message to child sexual predators that law enforcement officials will aggressively pursue offenders, even when victims disclose years after sexual abuse occurs,” said U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson. “I am grateful to the investigative team and federal prosecutors Reagan Reininger and Chantelle Dial for their tenacity when pursuing and bringing Mr. Parnell to justice.”

Judge Crawford called Parnell’s criminal acts “a terrible violation of his duty to care for and protect his children.” He further commended the two victims for their courage when testifying at trial and when sharing their victim impact statements at the hearing.

In March, a federal jury convicted Parnell 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.

An investigation was initiated by a Pryor Police detective after one of the victims described in detail the abuse both victims endured in a Facebook post in August 2020. The victims were adults at the time of the post.

Parnell will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service until transfer to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility.

The FBI and Pryor Police Department conducted the investigation.

A first step in helping someone who may be a victim of sexual abuse is to contact local authorities or the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI.