A Hawthorne man who sexually assaulted a young teenage girl after they watched a movie together will spend six months in jail.
Daniel Jay Simons, 19, pleaded guilty Monday in Douglas County Court to one felony count of sexual assault of a child under 16 years of age and one misdemeanor count of causing a child to expose genitals.
Judge George Glonek sentenced Simons to 18 months' probation on the misdemeanor charge. Conditions of his probation include six months in jail, undergoing a sex offender evaluation and following recommendations, having no contact with the victim, her family or their residence and paying a $100 fine plus court costs. Glonek also ordered the man to write an essay on the impact of statutory rape. Huber work release was granted for work, evaluation and treatment.
If Simons completes his probation successfully -- including keeping free of new criminal charges -- the sex assault charge could be dismissed. Glonek deferred judgment on the felony charge, which carries a maximum penalty of 40 years imprisonment and up to a $100,000 fine.
Giving Simons this second chance doesn't condone his actions, said District Attorney Dan Blank, but a felony is a very serious complication for a young person's future.
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The charges stem from a March incident. Simons and the girl watched a movie together, then he asked if she wanted to move to a bedroom to sleep. He began kissing her and grabbed her belt buckle. She told him: "No, I don't want to do this," according to the complaint. He started kissing the child again, then sexually assaulted her.
When questioned by Det. John Parenteau of the Douglas County Sheriff's Department, Simon admitted he had sex with the teen, who he knew was younger than 16. He later found out how old she was "and he knew he was in trouble," the com-plaint stated.
