Pettit pleads guilty to three of 17 child sex abuse charges

An Osceola woman facing 17 charges for and related to the sexual assault of a minor will be sentenced June 20 in Union County District Court on just three counts. In July and August, Creston Police say Isabel Pettit, 19, allowed a 14-year old victim in her care to be alone with a registered sex offender so the offender could have sexual relations with the child. Pettit also had a sexual relationship with the child.

Pettit was charged in September with eight counts of sex abuse, third degree - child victim by person four or more years older residing in the same home, four of which were for acts committed by Pettit and four for aiding and abetting acts of sexual abuse by a person she knew to be a registered sex offender. She was also charged with three counts of child endangerment for endangering a minor over whom she was responsible and six counts of lascivious conduct with a minor for acts she committed.

During a May 9 plea hearing, Pettit withdrew her previous not guilty plea on all charges and entered a plea of guilty to three charges: two counts of sex abuse, third degree, a Class C forcible felony and one count child endangerment, an aggravated misdemeanor.

The court accepted her plea and scheduled the June sentencing hearing which Pettit must be personally present for.

A second defendant charged in relation to the case, Dennis Simmerman, pled guilty to child endangerment as a person subject to sex offender registry and sex abuse, third degree as a habitual offender. He was sentenced in February and is currently serving two consecutive prison sentences for a total of 20 years.

On March 20 Adam D. Hanson, defense attorney for Pettit, filed an application requesting a competency evaluation be done. The request stated that Pettit’s “ability to fully understand and appreciate the nature of the proceedings or to effectively assist in her own defense had come into question.” Pettit’s father provided medical records in support of the request.

The request goes on to reference a Full Scale Intelligence Quotient derived from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - Fourth Edition, completed by Pettit in February 2022. This is the most widely used standardized test designated to measure intelligence and cognitive abilities in adults ages 16-90. Pettit’s score from the evaluation placed her at borderline impaired.

Hanson cites the most concerning aspect of the evaluation relating to her defense was Pettit’s score on working memory, described as extremely low. Due to the complexity of the proceedings, Hanson requested an 812 evaluation be ordered by the court.

The following day, the court found probable cause that Pettit was suffering from a mental disorder which could prevent her from appreciating the charges, understanding the proceedings or assisting effectively in her defense. All court proceedings were suspended pending if the completion of a new evaluation by Forensic Psychiatric Hospital found Pettit competent to stand trial or not.

A competency order was filed by the court May 2 stating Pettit was found to be competent to continue the criminal proceedings, which were then reinstated.

The competency order made note that a plea agreement had been reached in the case and scheduled a plea hearing for May 9.

Pettit remains in custody in the Adams County Jail.