A 53-year-old Salem man entered a negotiated plea in Marion County Court on Wednesday for contributing to the delinquency of a minor. As part of the agreement, Derek Purcell of Woodland Drive had a felony grooming charge, and another contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge was dismissed.
Purcell was sentenced to 24 months probation and ordered to pay court assessments only.
The misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge claimed Purcell aided a child under the age of 17 to become delinquent by allowing him to consume alcohol in his vehicle.
The grooming charge that was dropped claimed Purcell performed an act to attempt to seduce, solicit, lure, or entice the same juvenile to engage in any unlawful sexual conduct by telling him he looked good and wished he was older because he would cheat on his wife and hit him up. The second contributing to the delinquency of a minor charge that was dropped claimed that Purcell knowingly aided the same juvenile to become a delinquent by purchasing him a dab pen.
All three of the charges state the alleged incidents occurred in June through August 2022.
