Three arrested in child sex assault case

There have been a string of arrests in a child sex assault case stemming from incidents that took place from July to September.

Isabel Petitt, 19, of Creston, was arrested by the Creston Police Department Sunday, Sept. 8 and has since been charged with four counts sex abuse third degree - child victim, person 4 or more years older; three counts of child endangerment and six counts of lascivious conduct with a minor.

According to a Creston Police report, on multiple occasions, Pettit committed lascivious acts by inappropriately touching various areas of the minor’s body or permitting the minor to touch her. She also engaged in a sex act with the minor on four separate occasions.

Also arrested on Sept. 8 was Christopher Allen, 42, of Creston. He was charged with one count of child endangerment. Pettit and Allen knowingly allowed Dennis Simmerman, 29, of Murray, a registered sex offender, unsupervised access to the minor.

Wednesday evening, the Creston Police Department arrested Simmerman on four counts of sex abuse third degree - child victim, person 4 or more years older, for his actions during unsupervised time with the minor.

In 2018, Simmerman was charged by Clarke County Sheriff’s Office with lascivious acts with a child - permit to fondle; lascivious acts with a child - solicitation; indecent contact with a child and enticing a minor under 13 - sexual abuse or exploitation. He pled guilty to the last charge as a part of a plea agreement, requiring him to register as a sex offender.

The Iowa Sex Offender Registry shows Simmerman has restricted employment and exclusion zones due to his status of a tier III offender. He is required to update information quarterly.

Allen was transported to the Union County Jail where he was released from after posting a $2,000 bond. Pettit was transported to the Adams County Jail where she is being held on a $13,000 cash-only bond. Simmerman was transported to the Union County Jail where he is being held without bond until his initial appearance.