Judge delays classification of sex offender until July 20

CANTON — The sex-offender-classification hearing for the former pastor of Oswegatchie First Baptist Church has been postponed until next month.

Merton E. Parks, 61, of 469Oswegatchie Trail Road, Fine, was sentenced in May to 10 years' probation on a charge of felony possessing a sexual performance by a child.

St. Lawrence County Court Judge Jerome J. Richards said Monday that he was delaying the hearing until July 20 because the risk assessment test wasn't properly completed.

Mr. Parks admitted in May to downloading child pornography on a computer at the church in July. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Cyber Crimes Unit tracked a credit card he used to buy the pornography from several Web sites.

He resigned from his post in October. Mr. Parks previously told county sheriff's investigators that he never molested any area children, but he admitted that downloading child pornography wasn't smart.