Former youth minister guilty of child molestation
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The victim, now 12, who had calmly testified against Jeffery Simmons hours earlier, broke down into tears, clutching her mother, as Judge Bart Stanley announced the verdict — guilty on four counts of aggravated sexual battery.
Simmons, who chose not to take the stand in his own behalf, was without immediate reaction as the verdict from the eight-woman, four-man jury was announced. Jurors deliberated for over four hours Friday afternoon, after hearing just three witnesses in a trial with took just over two hours. The defense did not put on a case. There were no eyewitnesses to the crime aside from the victim.
For Simmons, the verdict marked the first of several cases against him as he faces trials on charges brought by four more alleged victims. The incidents, involving sexual molestation of girls under 13, all allegedly happened while he was youth minister at Gath Baptist Church. He has been in jail since his arrest in the summer of 2000.
The victim in Friday’s trial, who was 8 at the time of the incidents, testified the molestations happened while she was sleeping at the church parsonage where Simmons and his family lived. The victim said she was friends with Simmons’ daughter and had spent the night at least four times.
The victim told jurors Simmons came in the den while she on a roll-out bed and slipped his hand down her pajama bottoms and fondled her. The incidents happened during four occasions when she was sleeping over.
“I was scared and shocked and didn’t know what to do,” the victim testified.
The victim remained silent about the incidents until the night Simmons’ termination as youth minister was announced at church. The victim told her parents about the incidents at that time and Simmons was arrested following an investigation.
“I was young, only 8 years old, and didn’t know it was a crime,” the victim told jurors. “I know it’s a crime now.”
During cross examination by assistant public defender Scott Grissom, the victim was asked why she kept going to the Simmons’ residence on her own free will after the incidents had repeatedly happened.
“I didn’t want my friend to be mad at me,” the victim said. “I was hoping every time that he wouldn’t do it again.”
Grissom also questioned the victim about some inconsistencies in the story she told the Department of Children’s Services and her testimony the day of the trial. Specifically, Grissom asked why she originally said she was asleep at the beginning of the first incident. The victim countered she was telling the truth on the stand.
“Is it possible this was all just a dream,” Grissom asked, prompting the victim to counter that she is sure the incidents happened and she was sure it was Simmons.
With the conviction, Simmons faces eight to 12 years on each count, meaning, should the counts run consecutively, he could face up to 48 years for molesting the 8-year-old. Minimum sentence will be eight years served at 100 percent because it involved sexual molestation of a child under 13.
“We’re happy with the jury’s verdict,” said District Attorney General Dale Potter. “We felt the evidence called for a conviction on charges of aggravated sexual battery. We will be asking for the maximum sentence.”
Potter added prosecutors are determined to try the cases brought by the four other victims. The cases involve charges ranging from soliciting a minor to child rape. It is not known when the remaining cases will be heard.