Police: Gardens pair knew child was abused, didn’t act
They each face a charge of child cruelty in incidents.
PALMBEACHGARDENS— Two adults who Palm Beach Gardens police say were aware that a child was being sexually assaulted but did nothing about it have been arrested.
Mitchell Ross Simmons and Maryann Ellen Mattson, both of Palm Beach Gardens, each face a charge of child cruelty and were released from the Palm Beach County Jail on Monday after posting $3,000 bonds.
Police said that Simmons, 58, and Mattson, 45, knew that Raymond Mattson, 18, had sexually abused the child at least three times but took no corrective actions and did not contact authorities, according to an arrest report. The relationship between Raymond Mattson and Simmons and Maryann Mattson is blacked out in the arrest report.
Raymond Mattson, a student at Palm Beach Gardens High School, admitted to police that he assaulted the child at least 20 times during a three-year period beginning when the child was 3 years old.
Simmons told police he and Maryann Mattson had been approached by the child t wo years ago requesting they tell Raymond Mattson “to leave (the child) alone,” the report said. Simmons said that Raymond Mattson apologized and promised never to do it again. The report notes that Simmons did not prohibit contact between the child and Mattson and did not contact authorities.
Mar yann Mattson told police that she became aware of abuse in late 2013 and confronted Raymond Mattson, who admitted assaulting the child. Maryann Mattson also failed to take any action after learning of the abuse, the report said.
Simmons and Maryann Mattson told police they thought they had the incidents under control and didn’t go to law enforce - ment because they feared Raymond Mattson would get in trouble.
Raymond Mattson is being held without bond at the Pal m B e a c h C ount y Ja i l , where he is facing charges of sexual assault on a victim younger than 12 and with lewd and lascivious behavior.