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Plea Deal In Manhattan Rape Case Draws Outrage

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- A New York City rape case drew anger and outrage Tuesday as a group of women protested outside Manhattan Criminal Court.

The uproar came as family court-appointed juvenile counselor, Tony Simmons, was expected to get probation, but no jail time at his sentencing next week in a rape case involving a 15-year-old girl, CBS 2's John Metaxas reported.

That outcome could come as part of an agreement between Judge Cassandra Mullen and lawyers for both sides.

Simmons has pleaded guilty to raping one girl and sexually assaulting two others -- all between the ages of 15 and 16 -- while he was supervising them.

Simmons will be sentenced just across the street from the scene of the alleged attacks. He's accused of taking the 15-year- old girl to the basement of the Manhattan Family Court building and raping her. Moments later, he took the girl to her court appearance in the same building, Metaxas reported.

NOW-NYC Executive Director Sonia Ossorio was among those protesting Tuesday.

"What have you have here is a predator who knew that the young girls he was targeting were very vulnerable," Ossorio said.

Court Spokesman David Bookstaver, on behalf of the judge, said "this was an offer from the DA, not the court. This was a case that the DA let stagnate for five years. This is something that they recommended to the judge."

Still others said that explanation was no excuse for the decision.

"The judge is the one that offered this plea deal. She's the one with the power to say what the sentence should be," Ossorio said.

Manhattan Distrist Attorney Cy Vance Jr. was not available for comment Tuesday afternoon, but sources told CBS 2 Vance believes Simmons should serve time and is said to be weighing his legal options leading up to next Monday's hearing.

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