Cheerleader Gets 3 Years for Prostituting Hopkins Teammate

A judge sentenced a former Hopkins High School cheerleader to three years in prison for prostituting her younger teammate, the Star Tribune reported.

In August, Montia Marie Parker, 18, of Maple Grove, pleaded guilty to first-degree soliciting a minor to practice prostitution, first-degree sex trafficking of a minor and first-degree promotion of prostitution of a minor.

Parker turned down a deal in which she would have been sentenced to between 45 and 60 months in prison in exchange for a guilty plea, according to the County Attorney’s Office.

In court, the prosecutors argued for up to a five-year sentence while Parker’s attorney asked for time in the workhouse and probation.

Parker’s sentence requires her to spend at least two years in prison before she's eligible for release. She must also register as a sex offender.

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The Accusations

During her guilty plea, Parker confirmed the details alleged against her in the charging documents.

On March 11, FBI Special Agent Dixon Kuglin received information regarding prostitution-related activities involving several female students at Hopkins High School.

The victim was a 16-year-old sophomore at Hopkins High School and on the cheerleading team when the charges were filed. Her mother told police that she is on an Individual Education Plan at school and works with a social worker due to a developmental cognitive delay.

On Friday, March 1, police say she was talking to several friends and cheerleading teammates about trying to make some money. One of her friends mentioned that she could make money with sex. She told police she thought it was a joke, but they talked about it anyway.

On Sunday, March 3, the victim allegedly received a Facebook message from Parker, who she knew was a senior on the cheerleading team. Parker obtained her phone number and texted her asking if she wanted to make some money, according to court documents.

According to police, Parker asked her to send some pictures of herself that were "not too nasty but kinda cute." Police say Parker posted the photos to Backpage.com to advertise for the girl.  

Prosecutors accuse Parker of arranging the meetings, urging the girl to leave school and driving the girl to the men's homes.

The girl received $60 for an incident on March 5 and gave the money to Parker, according to police, who deposited the cash into her bank account. She allegedly gave none of the proceeds to the victim.

On March 6, Parker called the high school and pretended to be the girl's mother asking her to be excused for the day, according to the criminal complaint. Parker allegedly drove her to Brooklyn Park. 

The girl told police that she didn't want to do what was asked of her and left without completing a sex act. Parker drove her back to school.

The girl's mother told police that she had noticed changes in her daughter and found out about the unexcused absence from school on March 5. She checked her daughter's cell phone and found text messages about prostitution between her daughter and Parker. She called police. 

Officers found the ad on Backpage.com that they say Parker posted for her teammate. The phone number in the ad was Parker's. 

According to the County Attorney’s Office, when Parker’s lawyer asked her how she felt, Parker responded, “Guilty. Regretful. Remorseful.”