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Police say Byron James Simmons, 29, raped a 10-year-old girl.
TAMPA — A registered sex offender, recently released from state prison, was arrested early Sunday, accused of a similar crime more grave than his last.
Tampa police say Byron James Simmons, 29, picked up a 10-year-old relative from her home at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. A report says he drove her to Copeland Park on N 15th Street, locked the doors to his van and raped her. He made her promise not to tell anyone. He threatened to hurt her if she did.
Simmons was arrested at 3:47 a.m. Sunday at a North Tampa apartment complex and charged with sexual battery on a child younger than 12, a capital felony. The alleged rape occurred exactly six months after Simmons was released from state prison for a sex offense.
Simmons, whose alias is "Cousin Bo," was convicted in 2003 of attempted lewd or lascivious molestation of a victim between 12 and 15 years old, as well as the sale and possession of cocaine. He was sentenced to five years in prison, with credit for time served, and was released Nov. 24, 2007.
At the time of the alleged crime Sunday, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement sex offender database listed Simmons as released, or "no longer under Florida Department of Corrections confinement, supervision or any other court imposed sanction."
"There is no excuse to give someone no supervision when they come out," said Judy Cornett, executive director of Safety Zone Advocacy, Inc., which pushes for stricter sex offender restrictions. Cornett became an advocate after her son was raped.
Cornett researched this case as soon as she heard about it. She pushes for a "split sentence" for sex offenders, in which they serve part of their term in jail, and part on probation, undergoing surveillance and therapy. In this case, however, Simmons served all five years in prison, and was not sentenced to probation.
"They don't have control over these people when they're off supervision," she said.
In 1996, Simmons was sentenced to two years probation for carrying a concealed weapon and having a firearm at school. Hillsborough Circuit Court records show he violated that probation and was sentenced to 270 days in jail. Later convictions include assault, possession of cannabis, trespassing and battery.
Simmons, a resident of 3404 N 11th St., is being held in Orient Road Jail with no bail. If convicted, he could face life in prison, without parole.
Alexandra Zayas can be reached at azayas@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3354.
[Last modified: May 29, 2008 10:40 AM]
Comments on this article
by Stephanie
May 28, 2008 12:11 PM
What a sick sick bastard. Any person that could do that to a child, deserves to sit in jail and rot... I hope they never let him see the light of day again.
by Candi
May 27, 2008 2:33 PM
Any man or women that do dirty deed's to a child need there hand's and privite's cut off. This rehab and jail time dosn't end it. Are children come first. We need to protect each child from a maniac sex molester. Let's make it a death sen. disgusting
by Candi
May 27, 2008 2:30 PM
God these child rapist's need to get life. Just got out of prison and raping again. GOD GIVE'S NO MERCY in such an awful act. Send him back to prison for life. And I hope he suffer's every day with rape from the lifer's. They will be waiting for him.
by Karen G.
May 27, 2008 2:29 PM
Filthy man and a filthy mind. Give him life. What a disgusting man, beast I would say. Alot of children are having this done to them from a family member or relative on a daily basis, that we don't even know about. How sad , God will punish them all
by Irene
May 27, 2008 10:27 AM
I agree with Latina who let a 10 year old child go with him at 10:30 at night? why was the first sentence so short in the first place
To bad we don't have case workers on their butts like in the movie Flock. My heart goes out to that child. poor baby
by william
May 27, 2008 10:27 AM
I think this man is a stain on all sex offenders that paid there dues to state and society.Most of {us}just want to pick up whats left of our lives and go on trying to live without further incident.This man has no place in society.
by Sal
May 27, 2008 10:26 AM
All I can say is Chemical Casteration! Without their tools these guys are mostly harmless (but still sick pups)...
by Carisma
May 27, 2008 10:26 AM
One Strike Law for child molesters. Why should they be allowed another victim? Why should they be allowed to ruin another child?
by Latina
May 26, 2008 12:55 PM
Unless this man was her father, why would anyone release a 10-year old to the care of a convicted sex offender at 10:30pm at night?
by LORETTA
May 26, 2008 12:55 PM
THROW THAT MAN IN JAIL AND THROW THE KEY AWAY.THERAPY IS A BIG JOKE.
by Cheryl
May 26, 2008 9:39 AM
Sex offenders cannot be rehabilitated, so why do we treat them as minor offenders in society? Four years with no parole or supervision for his last offense was not nearly enough time. He should not have been released. He's a violent career criminal.
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