Simmons claims perjury at his trial

Calling for a Tennessee Bureau of Investigation probe into alleged widespread perjury allegations, former youth minister turned convicted child molester Jeffery Simmons says there were 200 incidents of perjury in the case which has landed him behind bars for 48 years.

Simmons, who has been behind bars since the first of several charges were brought in 2000, is serving the 48-year sentence for his conviction for fondling an 8-year-old girl who was having a sleep-over with his daughter. He attained a hung jury last year in the case of his alleged fondling of a 12-year-old member of the Gath Baptist congregation where he was youth minister. There are three more accusers lined up for their day in court against Simmons and prosecutors say they intend to try every case.

However, as he awaits the next of his trials, Simmons remains active from his jail cell filing motions. The latest, a copy of which was sent to the Southern Standard by Simmons, maintains he has been denied repeated requests to appear before the local grand jury to present perjury charges against his accusers.

“Over 200 perjured statements occurred at my trial in 2003 which resulted in me being sentenced to 48 years in prison,” Simmons wrote in his motion for a TBI investigation. “The state is currently conspiring with Gath Baptist Church leaders.”

Simmons maintains the perjured testimony was to frame him for a crime he did not commit because he was wanting to expose a sex scandal at the church. District Attorney General Dale Potter said there is no such conspiracy and that Simmons is looking for a way out of prison.

“It’s just Jeff Simmons being Jeff Simmons,” Potter said of the call for a TBI investigation.

However, Simmons maintains he can prove the allegations if given a chance.

“This is a miscarriage of justice to the greatest degree,” Simmons said, noting he wants to prosecute his accusers. “If proved, I will seek to have the alleged victim tried as an adult, which could result in her going to prison for the rest of her life.”

Simmons said if he does not get a TBI probe, something which is not likely, then he plans to file a federal lawsuit.