Child sex offender to serve 3 years minimum

A convicted sex offender pled guilty to two of 12 charges as part of a voluntary plea deal in Union County District Court Feb. 28. The negotiated deal will ensure the offender will serve a minimum of three years in prison before he could be eligible for parole.

Dennis Simmerman, 29, of Creston, was charged by the Creston Police Department in September with 12 felonies, including four counts of sex abuse, third degree - child victim, person four or more years older, first offense, a Class C felony; four counts of child endangerment - registered sex offender, a Class D felony and four counts of sexual abuse, second degree, a Class B felony.

According to Creston Police reports, between July 13 and Sept. 8, 2024, Simmerman was introduced to a 14-year-old victim by a friend, identified as Isabel Pettit, 19, of Creston. Pettit, who was aware Simmerman was a sex offender, told him the victim was 19, but Simmerman admitted to knowing she was only 14. On at least four separate occasions Pettit walked the victim to Simmerman’s residence with the sole purpose of Simmerman having sexual intercourse with the victim.

Simmerman entered a guilty plea to one count of child endangerment as a person subject to the sex offender registry and one count of sexual abuse, third degree, as a habitual offender. As part of the guilty plea Simmerman admitted he had the victim in his home, unsupervised and in his presence, knowing it was a violation of the sex offender registry rules. He also admitted to committing a sex act with the victim and that he was a habitual offender. The guilty pleas were accepted by the court Feb. 28 and Simmerman was sentenced immediately at his request.

Simmerman was previously convicted of offenses against a minor in 2019 in Clarke County and subject to the requirements of the sex offender registry at the time of his offenses in Creston.

Simmerman was sentenced to serve not more than five years for child endangerment. He will receive credit for time previously served of 140 days. This sentence will run consecutively with a 15-year sentence for sexual abuse, which includes a mandatory minimum of three years served before he may be eligible for parole. In both sentences, the terms of incarceration may be reduced by as much as half of the maximum five and 15 years as a result of statutory good conduct time and other statutory credits, allowing Simmerman the possibility of release before the sentences are completed.

Judgement also orders Simmerman to participate and complete the sexual offender treatment program. If he fails the program, he may be required to serve the entire 15-year sentence and lose any served time credit. Once released from prison, Simmerman will be electronically monitored and is required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life. He will be subject to special supervision by the Department of Corrections for the rest of his life beginning at the completion of his sentence. This special supervision will act as a life-long parole.

A no contact order previously imposed will remain in full force for five years, ordering Simmerman to have no contact, direct or indirect, with the victim. He will also be financially responsible for all counseling the victim receives. Court costs, attorney fees and a yet-to-be determined restitution payment to the victim were also ordered by the court.

Pettit, who was also arrested in connection with this case, is facing 17 charges, including eight Class C felonies, is scheduled for a pretrial hearing in Union County District court March 21.