Man on probation arrested for sexual battery of young teenage girl

Staff report

Updated on April 17 with link to article about second case.

Updated on April 20 with pre-trial detention information.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Mack Arther Simmons II, 30, has been arrested for sexual battery and lewd and lascivious molestation of a young teenage girl, and he is also facing a second case with charges of sexual battery of a victim under 12 years old and sexual battery of a victim under 18.

Click here for our article about the second victim.

The victim in the first case recently came forward to report that Simmons had sexually battered her over several years, and a Gainesville Police Department investigation identified incidents on two specific dates: Simmons allegedly raped the victim while she was at his house and then touched her genitals the next day, and about two years later, he touched her genitals over her clothes at a different residence.

Simmons has been charged with sexual battery of a victim under 18 years old and two counts of lewd and lascivious molestation of a victim under 16 years old. There is also a second case with charges of sexual battery of a victim under 12 years old and sexual battery of a victim between the ages of 12 and 18.

Simmons has 24 felony convictions, mostly burglary and grand theft, from offenses committed in Santa Rosa County when he was 17. All but one of the sentences were concurrent 5-year sentences, but one sentence was for 11 years, and he was released in June 2024 to serve four years of probation. He is being held without bail pending a hearing on a motion from the State Attorney’s Office to hold him without bail until trial. On April 20, Judge Robert Groeb granted the motion and ordered him held without bail until trial.

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.