A sentencing hearing in the Peter Simonds case has been pushed back to Fri., May 20 at 2 p.m.
Employees of the District Attorney’s office and Sagadahoc County Superior Court confirmed the change May 12.
Simonds, a former teacher at Great Salt Bay Community School, pleaded no contest to three charges of Class D unlawful sexual contact May 6.Peter Simonds pleaded nolo contendere (no contest) to three charges of Class D Unlawful Sexual Contact May 6 in Sagadahoc County Superior Court.
A sentencing hearing was initially scheduled for May 13.
Simonds, 45, of Nobleboro, a former fourth grade teacher at Great Salt Bay Community School in Damariscotta, was indicted on Aug. 19, 2010 on nine charges of Class B Unlawful Sexual Contact and 13 charges of Class D Unlawful Sexual Touching.
The indictment did not include the three charges Simonds pleaded no contest to, although the new charges stem from the same time period (Jan. 2010) and name three of the same victims as multiple charges in the indictment.
The indictment named seven victims over a nearly two-year time period (April 2008 to March 2010).
The status of the 22 original charges is unclear.
The new charges specifically name the defendant as “a teacher, employee or other official having instructional, supervisory or disciplinary authority over the student,” a reference to a paragraph in Maine’s unlawful sexual contact law.
The new charges classify the victims as “less than 18 years of age,” whereas the original unlawful sexual contact charges referred to victims “less than 12.”
By entering a plea of no contest, a defendant neither admits nor denies guilt. The plea however does allow the court to sentence the defendant.
Class D crimes, according to the office of the Attorney General, are punishable by up to 364 days incarceration and a $2000 fine.
On May 6, a Sagadahoc County Superior Court employee told The Lincoln County News jury selection for Simonds’ trial would take place Fri., May 20, with the trial to follow in July.
Simonds instead entered his plea at an unscheduled appearance May 6, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wright said.
