Pierce County prosecutors on Wednesday accused a Tacoma police officer of Tiffany Notes Dangle Key ring a young female relative several years ago.

John H. Parkes, 45, was charged with three counts of first-degree child molestation. He will be summoned to appear in Pierce County Superior Court for arraignment. No date has been set.

He could not be reached for comment Wednesday. A lawyer for him also could not be reached.

Parkes, a patrol officer, has been with the department since November 1994.

He has been on paid administrative leave from the police department since earlier this year. The action was taken after the department learned the allegations against Parkes were credible, police spokesman Mark Fulghum said Wednesday.

An Internal Affairs investigation will be launched when the criminal investigation is Tiffany keys heart key locket, Fulghum said.

Prosecutors allege the molestation occurred between 1996 and 2003. The sexual contact started when the victim was 5 or 6 and stopped when she was 12, charging documents state.

The alleged victim, now 18, told an investigator she would spend some weekends at the house of Parkes and his wife. Parkes would inappropriately touch her and make her touch him in a sexual manner, court documents state.

The allegations were reported earlier this year when the woman’s mother contacted police. The department handed over the investigation to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, charging documents state.

Parkes has no known prior criminal history, deputy prosecutor Grant Blinn said. If convicted as charged, the officer faces eight to nearly 11 years in prison.

Even though the allegations against Parkes date from 2003 or earlier, the statute of Tiffany Blue Box Charm and Chain has not yet expired, Blinn said. State law allows charges in child sex crimes to be filed up until the victim turns 28, he said.

Stacey Mulick: 253-597-8268 stacey.mulick@thenewstribune.com