This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
An Orem man accused of molesting a child just days after posting bail in a separate child sex abuse case has pleaded guilty to charges.
Nicholas Simmonds, 19, was originally charged in June with three counts of sexual abuse of a child, all second-degree felonies. In that case, prosecutors allege he took a 6-year-old neighbor girl from her yard to a nearby secluded spot and fondled her several times through her clothing.
After posting bail in that case, Simmonds was arrested four days later, and charged in August with attempted sexual abuse of a child, a third-degree felony, after he allegedly pulled down the panties of a different 6-year-old neighbor girl.
On Monday, Simmonds pleaded guilty in 4th District Court to one count of sexual abuse of a child and one count of attempted sexual abuse. The other charges were dismissed.
According to plea agreement documents, Simmonds admitted to fondling the first 6-year-old girl on May 24, and admitted to pulling down the pants of the other girl on July 23, after "asking her if she wanted to play a game."
Simmonds faces up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced on Feb. 3.
Twitter: @jm_miller