By Shayna Jacobs
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
MANHATTAN SUPREME COURT — A former juvenile justice counselor was found guilty Friday of molesting two teenage girls who were under his supervision in the Manhattan Family Court building.
Tony Simmons, 47, was on trial for allegedly raping one girl and sexually abusing two others inside the Lafayette Street courthouse in 2005 and 2008. Two victims were 15-years-old and another was 16 at the time.
Simmons was found guilty of all counts except two charges related to the alleged rape of one of the 15-year-olds.
All three girls, who prosecutors described as "troubled" teens in need of guidance, testified at Simmons' week-long trial.
Prosecutors said Simmons targeted the adolescents because he did not believe they were a threat to him should allegations ever surface.
One girl was working as a prostitute in Hunt's Point when she was 13 after she was thrown out of her house. Another was selling drugs for her mother, a Bloods gang member, prosecutors said.
But Simmons was caught after he "rolled the dice one too many times," betting he could get away with abusing the dysfunctional teens without them telling, Assistant District Attorney Evan Krutoy said.
Krutoy said defense allegations that the girls fabricated the stories about Simmons were absurd.
"They didn't all conspire. They didn't all pick Tony Simmons by his bad luck and say, 'Yeah let's make something up and say he did it,' " Krutoy said in impassioned summary arguments on Thursday.
Simmons' lawyer, Gregory Watford, argued none of the girls were credible witnesses and that the DA failed to prove Simmons' guilt.
"This case is all about credibility," said Watford.
"There's no medical evidence to prove these charges [and] no video evidence," Watford said in closing arguments this week.
Simmons worked for the city's Department of Juvenile Justice for 16 years. He was ordered held without bail after the verdict on Friday.
He has pleaded guilty to these crimes in the past in return for a deal to get 10 months probation, but the judge revoked the offer two months after he pleaded.
Manhattan Supreme Court judge Cassandra Mullen said Simmons' display of depravity and lack of remorse after his plea "shocks the conscience of this court."
He turned down a second plea deal in exchange for three years in prison after the first offer was revoked on Nov. 15. Now he faces up to four years in prison on just the top conviction charge at his sentencing on Feb. 1.
