A young woman is now fighting for justice, alleging a Massachusetts town knowingly allowed a dangerous predator to operate a business where she was later brutally assaulted. The lawsuit details a pattern of negligence and a shocking disregard for the safety of young women in the community.
The case centers around Petros “Peter” Sismanis, a Greek national currently in ICE custody. He was convicted in June 2025 for the 2023 sexual assault of a then-16-year-old girl while she worked at Hillers Pizza, a business the town of Hopkinton repeatedly licensed despite a disturbing history.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Court documents reveal Sismanis was previously accused of rape and indecent assault involving female minors back in 1998, leading to his registration as a sex offender. He had already assaulted two employees while running a donut shop in the same town, yet his business license was renewed without apparent scrutiny.
The plaintiff, now 19, claims Hopkinton officials, including the police chief, and the pizza shop itself fostered a sexually hostile environment. She argues the town was aware, or should have been aware, of Sismanis’s past when they approved his license renewal in 2016 – a process involving multiple departments and a mandatory police review.
The horrifying details of the 2023 assault paint a picture of calculated manipulation and terror. Sismanis allegedly lured the teen into the pizza shop’s basement, where he forcefully kissed and hugged her. When she contacted her mother, he desperately pleaded with them not to involve the police, reportedly stating he’d “rather be killed” than face legal consequences.
The lawsuit alleges Sismanis even physically blocked the mother’s car, preventing them from leaving and escalating the situation. The young woman was left “terrified, frozen in fear and did not know what to do” during the assault, according to court papers.
Despite his prior conviction and sex offender status, the town approved the license renewal, allegedly putting countless young women at risk. The plaintiff is seeking $1 million in damages, arguing the town’s negligence directly led to her trauma.
Town officials, through their attorney, maintain they acted appropriately given the information available at the time. However, court documents highlight a glaring omission: no record exists of the Hopkinton police or chief questioning Sismanis’s fitness to operate a business, despite his registered sex offender status.
Following his conviction on charges of indecent assault, battery, and witness intimidation, Sismanis received a six-month jail sentence and was ordered to re-register as a sex offender. He was then taken into ICE custody due to concerns about his immigration status and is currently detained in California.
Prior to the 2023 assault, the lawsuit claims the Hopkinton police received multiple complaints regarding Sismanis’s inappropriate behavior towards female employees. This raises serious questions about the thoroughness of previous investigations and the town’s commitment to protecting its citizens.
The case underscores a disturbing pattern of alleged failures, highlighting the potential consequences when authorities fail to prioritize public safety and adequately vet individuals with a history of sexual violence. It’s a fight for accountability and a demand for justice for a young woman whose life was irrevocably altered.
