Massachusetts Teen Sues Town for Licensing Pizza Shop Run by Registered Sex Offender
A 19‑year‑old woman has filed a civil lawsuit against Hopkinton, Massachusetts, its police chief and Hillers Pizza, alleging they negligently allowed Greek national Petros "Peter" Sismanis — a registered sex offender with prior accusations involving minors — to continue operating the pizza shop where he sexually assaulted her at age 16 in 2023. The suit, moved to federal court on Jan. 5, argues town officials knew or should have known about Sismanis’ 1998 rape and indecent‑assault case and his sex‑offender registration when they renewed the restaurant’s business license in 2016, a process that requires police review. Sismanis was convicted in June 2025 of indecent assault, battery and witness intimidation over the basement assault described in the complaint, received a six‑month jail sentence, and was placed back on the sex‑offender registry before being transferred to ICE custody over his immigration status. An attorney for Hopkinton says the town and police "acted appropriately and constitutionally" based on what they knew at the time, but the plaintiff is seeking $1 million in damages and contends the town’s licensing practices endangered the many minor girls Sismanis allegedly hired. The case spotlights how thin local vetting and lax follow‑through on sex‑offender information can leave teenage workers exposed, an issue likely to resonate far beyond one New England town.
📌 Key Facts
- The lawsuit was transferred to federal court on January 5 and seeks $1 million in damages from the Town of Hopkinton, its police chief and Hillers Pizza.
- Owner Petros "Peter" Sismanis, a Greek national and registered sex offender, was convicted in June 2025 for indecent assault, battery and witness intimidation after assaulting the plaintiff in 2023 when she was 16.
- The complaint alleges town officials knew or should have known of Sismanis’ 1998 sex‑offense case and sex‑offender registration when they approved Hillers Pizza’s license renewal in 2016, yet raised no objections.
📊 Relevant Data
Sexual recidivism rates for convicted sex offenders in the US range from 5 percent after 3 years to 24 percent after 15 years.
SOMAPI Fact Sheet on Recidivism — Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking (SMART), U.S. Department of Justice
38 percent of women and 14 percent of men in the US have reported experiencing sexual harassment at work.
Ending Sexual Assault and Harassment in the Workplace — National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC)
In Hopkinton, Massachusetts, the population is approximately 19,050, with 88.6% White (Non-Hispanic), 17.4% Asian, and smaller percentages of other groups, according to 2020 Census data.
QuickFacts: Hopkinton town, Middlesex County, Massachusetts — U.S. Census Bureau
Massachusetts does not have a statewide prohibition on registered sex offenders obtaining general business licenses, though legislation like Bill H.3775 has been proposed to restrict licensing for Level 3 sex offenders in certain professions.
Bill H.3775 — Massachusetts General Court
Greece has been part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program since 2010, allowing Greek nationals to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of up to 90 days without a visa.
Visa Waiver Program — U.S. Department of Homeland Security
📰 Source Timeline (1)
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