Staff Report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mack Arther Simmons II, aged 30, faces serious charges involving sexual offenses against two young victims. He is accused of committing sexual battery against a girl younger than 12 years old, and has additional charges related to sexual battery and lewd molestation involving another victim, a young teenage girl.

For details on the case concerning the initial victim, click here.

Recently, both victims disclosed these incidents. The second victim alleged that Simmons lured her into his home under the pretense of playing video games or watching television. Once inside, he reportedly turned off the lights and assaulted her. These disturbing events allegedly took place over a five-month period, beginning when she was under 12 years old. The University of Florida Child Protection Team has corroborated that the victim experienced sexual abuse.

Simmons faces multiple charges: sexual battery of a child under 12, a capital felony, and sexual battery involving a victim aged 12 to 18. In a related case, he is charged with sexual battery of a minor under 18 and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 16.

Simmons’ criminal history includes 24 felony convictions, predominantly for burglary and grand theft, committed in Santa Rosa County when he was 17. Most of his sentences were concurrent five-year terms, except for one 11-year sentence. He was released in June 2024 and placed on four years of probation. Currently, Simmons is held without bail, pending a State Attorney’s Office motion to keep him detained until trial. If the judge does not approve this motion, bail will be determined at the hearing.

Articles about arrests are based on reports from law enforcement agencies. The charges listed are taken from the arrest report and/or court records and are only accusations. All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.