Daniel Simmons (New Castle County Police)
Police accused Delaware’s deputy attorney general Friday of raping a teen boy he met on the gay hookup app Grindr, the News Journal reports.
Officer Tracey Duffy told the newspaper that Daniel Simmons, 34, a deputy attorney general assigned to the New Castle County Misdemeanor Trial Unit, was charged with four counts of fourth-degree rape.
The investigation was launched in March, after police learned of incidents involving a 16-year-old boy, whom Simmons met via the popular gay dating app Grindr. Duffy said that Simmons was identified as the perpetrator early in the investigation but that he did not meet the teen through his job as a prosecutor.
Delaware’s Attorney General’s Office was notified of the investigation conclusion Friday and approved a warrant for Simmons’ arrest, the News Journal reports.
According to a statement released by the state Attorney General’s Office Friday night, Simmons was placed on administrative leave.
“These charges are serious and will be addressed through the criminal justice system,” spokesman Jason Miller said.
According to UPI.com, State Attorney General Beau Biden, son of Vice President Joe Biden, who created Delaware’s Child Predator Unit has yet made a comment about the incident.
Bail information has not yet been released. Other details are being withheld to protect the teen’s identity, CBS Philly reports. Authorities believe there are other victims, however.
