Fourteen months after his March 18, 2010 arrest, Peter Simonds began a six-month sentence at Two Bridges Regional Jail May 23.
Justice Andrew Horton found Simonds guilty of three charges of Class D Unlawful Sexual Contact at a May 20 sentencing hearing in Sagadahoc County Superior Court.
Simonds, 45, of Nobleboro, a former teacher at Great Salt Bay Community School, pleaded no contest to the charges May 6.
Horton sentenced Simonds as follows, per the terms of a plea agreement: on count one, 364 days in jail with all but six months suspended, followed by a year of probation; counts two and three, 364 days each, all suspended, with one year of probation for each count.
The sentences will run consecutively. If Simonds violates the conditions of his probation in the three years following his initial six months in jail, he could potentially return to jail to serve the suspended portion of his sentence.
The conditions of probation include no contact with the seven individuals named in the original charges against Simonds or with the individuals’ families and no unsupervised contact with children under the age of 16 except for Simonds’ children and incidental, non-verbal contact in a public place.
Simonds must not return to or “have contact with” Great Salt Bay Community School and he must submit to a polygraph at the discretion of his parole officer. He must complete a psychological evaluation and a sex offender evaluation, as well as counseling and treatment as directed by his probation officer.
Because Simonds is guilty of multiple counts, he must also register as a sex offender for life.
After introducing himself as the “proud” parent of a “very brave” child, the parent, reading from a prepared statement, described their shock and outrage upon hearing of Simonds’ actions.
“It has been extremely difficult to build back the trust with men in general for my [child],” the parent said. “Every time a relative or a coach reaches out to give [them] a hug or a high five, I can see it in [their] eyes. The innocence in [their] life is gone at the age of 10.”
The parent, addressing Horton, said, “we are not happy with the outcome of this case. I find it terribly difficult to believe that you are happy with the outcome either.”
“This very sick individual deserves much worse than he is getting,” the parent said. “He deserves to be in prison. He deserves to be subject to all of the horrors that prison life gives.”
The parent then turned to Simonds to address him directly. “You, Peter Simonds, are a very sick individual,” the parent said. “Think often of what you have done while you are in jail. Get the psychological help that you so desperately need. My family is truly sorry that we ever had to meet you.”
The court also received a handwritten victim impact statement from one of the children named in the charges. The child said they’ve “thankfully forgotten” how Simonds made them feel. They said they want Simonds “in jail either forever or a good one or two year [sic] I like two the most.”
Below their signature, the child added a brief postscript: “Send him to JAIL.”
Horton, responding to the parent’s testimony, said the parent was “right” in believing that he was unhappy with the outcome of the case, but “it isn’t for me to be happy or unhappy,” he said.
Although Horton acknowledged, “there is no amount of jail or prison time that can restore what was taken,” he said “the sentence, on some level, is a life sentence” due to Simonds’ “minimal if not non-existent” prospects for future employment as a teacher.
Earlier in the hearing, before accepting the plea agreement, Horton reminded those present of the risk associated with going to trial. Horton said he’s presided over similar trials in the past.
“I have seen a number of people acquitted. I’ve seen cases result in convictions,” Horton said. “The outcome is highly uncertain and the trial is an ordeal for everyone concerned.”
Later, after pronouncing the sentence, Horton said he feels “quite confident there’s no one in the courtroom that is happy.”
Simonds requested and, despite the state’s objections, received a stay until May 23 at 9 a.m.
The prosecutor, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wright, declined comment outside the courthouse.
