SANTA BARBARA, Calif - The fugitive on the run after allegedly molesting a Carpinteria girl almost 20 years ago entered a "no contest" plea in a Santa Barbara courtroom for all charges against him.
The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office says they believe 65-year-old Jeffrey Parish did this so that his accomplice, Luis Urbina, will receive a lesser punishment. They said Parish showed a lot more remorse when he found out Urbina was arrested.
Prosecutors say they believe Urbina was assisting Parish by sending money to Guatemala- where Parish was in hiding. They also think that Urbina helped Parish communicate with his mother.
Prosecutors say more victims have come forward, claiming to be molested by Parish, but they say these cases allegedly happened too long ago to charge Parish with them.
Parish had been on the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department "Most Wanted" list since his disappearance in 1994. Parish was accused of molesting a four year old girl in Carpinteria and was about to be put on trial in March 1994 when he vanished. Last month, he entered a "not guilty" plea after his arrest.
