Man Pleads Guilty to Aggravated Sexual Battery of Norfolk Child
NORFOLK, Va. – Denzell Maurine Sims, 31, was convicted in Norfolk Circuit Court on Monday of aggravated sexual battery after pleading guilty to inappropriately touching his ex-fiancée’s child last year.
On Nov. 26, the mother of the child contacted Norfolk Police to report Mr. Sims, whom the child said touched her private areas under her clothes on at least two occasions while he supervised her when her mother was at work. Mr. Sims confessed to touching the child in the described manner on one occasion.
On Monday, Mr. Sims pleaded guilty to the aggravated sexual battery of a child under the age of 13, and Judge David W. Lannetti accepted Mr. Sims’ plea agreement with a maximum active sentence of four years and six months. Mr. Sims is docketed for sentencing on May 31.
“Mr. Sims took advantage both of the child victim and her mother, harming them both,” said Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi. “To make amends and to protect the community, we will seek a sentence that will hold Mr. Sims accountable.”
Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Keith M. Proctor is prosecuting Mr. Sims’ case on behalf of the Commonwealth, and Norfolk Police Detective LaRue D. Wilkins led the investigation.
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