Mother of Molestation Victim Furious at Plea Deal Offered to Nativist Leader Simcox
The mother of a young girl who claims she was molested by former Minuteman leader Chris Simcox says she’s outraged about a 10-year prison sentence being offered by Arizona prosecutors.
She’s raising questions about the handling of the case by Maricopa County Prosecutor Bill Montgomery’s office. Montgomery has a history of associating with Simcox politically, having spoken at a Minuteman event and participated in one of Simcox’s border watches.
As things stand, the offer of what seems to the victim’s mother like a sweetheart deal may not even be enough to entice Simcox to accept the arrangement. At his most recent court appearance, according to one report, he shook his head vigorously at the mention of a plea deal, appearing to reject it out of hand.
Under the deal, the original five Class 2 felony charges for child molestation and sexual conduct with a minor would be reduced to five charges of child molestation, and a Class 4 felony count for having shown pornography to a minor would be wiped away.
Michelle Lynch, whose daughter was allegedly molested repeatedly by Simcox when she was visiting his home with his own daughter of the same age, is most upset that Simcox could be out of prison in eight and a half years, at age 60 and still capable of harming children again. If Simcox’s case went to trial and he were convicted, he could well be sentenced to prison for life.
She told Stephen Lemons of the Phoenix New Times that the bargain infuriated her. “Essentially, the prosecutor is saying [that once he gets out], they’ll just wait ‘til he does it again,” Lynch said. “Then they’ll give him more time. Meanwhile, they’re creating more victims.”
Lynch said that her daughter continues to have nightmares about her ordeal - which included being molested every time she played with Simcox’s children - and fears Simcox might return to harm her. She is receiving counseling.
More: Mother of Molestation Victim Furious at Plea Deal Offered to Nativist Leader Simcox