Penfield, N.Y. – The man accused of inappropriately touching young girls' feet in the Penfield Library earlier this month was indicted Monday afternoon.
49-year-old Anthony Parri is charged with sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.
Parri arrived at court in the back of a police car and waved to reporters. Once outside, he began ranting, telling the media that the police set him up.
The rants continued in court. Parri told the judge he wanted to represent himself. He told the judge he feels his attorney, a court-assigned public defender, is "inept."
The judge dismissed the public defender and ordered Parri to have a mental health evaluation.
In court, Parri talked at length about how he believes he was entrapped by police and set up. At one point accusing police of putting hidden cameras in the libraries and hiring women and children to "tease him and get him to rub their feet."
Parri also asked for protective custody in jail because he says inmates keep calling him "The Foot Guy."
Prosecutor Bill Gargan admits this is an unusual case. He says the judge gave Parri time to talk in court, to evaluate his ability to defend himself.
Parri has a violent past and served time for two felonies. In one case he shot a man during a robbery. In another, he stabbed someone during a fight in a bar. The victim was an off-duty police officer.
Monroe County Sheriffs Investigators are also looking into whether Parri is involved in fondling incidents at the Pittsford, Henrietta and Brighton Libraries, as well as Barnes and Noble Bookstore in Pittsford Plaza.
When 13WHAM's Patrice Walsh asked if more victims have come forward, prosecutors replied, "No comment."
Parri was returned to the Monroe County Jail without bail. He will be arraigned on the indictment in the coming weeks.
