GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Abigail Simon, 35, testified on day nine of her trial. Kent County assistant prosecutor Helen Brinkman cross-examined Simon today.
Simon, a former tutor, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a then-15-year-old boy. The two met at Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School where she worked. She allegedly took him back to her apartment on multiple occasions up until April 2013.
"Today is the first day I haven't been scared," Simon said to Brinkman.
At times, the suspect appeared frustrated and angry during cross-examination. She repeatedly denied any acts were consensual, and she said she was raped.
Brinkman read through text messages allegedly exchanged between Simon and the teen, including lewd texts.
Simon claimed, "All of those texts saved my life, and now you're throwing it in my face to destroy it."
The suspect claims the teen would go through her phone constantly, was distrustful, and possessive. She said she would only text complimentary things about the teen to other people because she knew the teen would read them, and it would make him feel good. (Friday, Simon testified that she did many things to appease the teen.) She claimed she was scared of him.
However, the prosecution pointed out inconsistencies in her texts.
"Simon: Right, I would say certain things to certain people. I made no sense at that time. I mean, I don't know what else to say.
Those words aren't my real thoughts.
Prosecutor: Well, you told Dave Neal one thing, that you wanted [the teen] to go to second base, but you're telling Kate--
Simon: Okay then. So why are you asking me if I'm lying or not? Clearly I'm lying. I've told two different stories to two different people. One thing that he would like seeing that I told Dave Neal and one thing he would like seeing that I told Kate Zimmerman. Clearly I'm lying."
Text messages allegedly exchanged between Simon and her sister were also read in court. In the texts, Simon refers to the teen as a "tween" and a "20-year-old minor league hockey player."
Simon said the texts she sent to her sister were mostly lies and were sent to throw the teen off (if and when he read them).
The prosecutor believes Simon has also lied during this trial. Brinkman asked the former tutor why she didn't tell anyone she was allegedly
raped by the teen until this trial.
Text messages between Simon and her father, who's an attorney, were also presented as evidence. The texts were also from 2013. The prosecution wondered why Simon never mentioned being abused by a boyfriend.
"Simon: I was trying to reach out.
Prosecutor: If you were trying to reach out, all you had to do was ask your dad. Call your dad on the phone. I'm being beaten. I'm being beaten raped. He's a lawyer.
Simon: You know it's not that easy! You know it's not that easy!
Prosecutor: It is that easy.
Simon: Women do this all the time!
Judge: Just a minute, just a minute, just a minute.
Prosecutor: Who told you that?
Simon: I've lived it! And it is so scary and you can't go to the police right away. And you know that!"
Simon's defense attorney questioned her Friday.
Follow Darren Cunningham on twitter @darrenfox17 for the latest.
