The plaintiff, now 19, says Hopkinton negligently renewed Hillers Pizza’s license in 2016 despite owner Petros 'Peter' Sismanis’ prior sex-offender history, enabling him to sexually assault her in 2023 when she was 16. Sismanis was convicted in June 2025 of indecent assault, battery and witness intimidation, sentenced to six months, ordered to register as a sex offender, and placed in ICE custody. The federal lawsuit, transferred on Jan. 5, accuses town officials, the police chief and the restaurant of fostering a sexually hostile workplace and seeks $1 million in damages. Hopkinton’s counsel says the town acted appropriately based on what was known at the time.
Hopkinton Sued Over 2016 Business License Renewal After Employee Assault; Plaintiff Seeks $1M
Massachusetts town faces lawsuit for allowing criminal immigrant, sex offender to renew business license
A 19-year-old woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the town of Hopkinton, alleging that municipal officials negligently renewed the business license for Hillers Pizza in 2016 despite the owner’s prior sex-offender history. The complaint names Greek national Petros 'Peter' Sismanis, who was convicted in June 2025 of sexually assaulting the plaintiff in 2023 while she worked at the restaurant. Sismanis is currently in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody.
Hillers Pizza permanently closed after owner Petros "Peter" Sismanis was accused of sexually assaulting an underage female employee in 2023 in Hopkinton, Mass.(Fox News)
Allegations and Background
The suit claims town departments, including the police, failed to flag Sismanis' prior criminal history when approving the license renewal, enabling him to continue operating the business. Court filings allege that Sismanis had earlier allegations from the late 1990s, including charges of rape, indecent assault and battery involving minors, and later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent assault and battery that required him to register as a Level 2 sex offender.
The owner of Hillers Pizza, Petros "Peter" Sismanis, is in ICE custody after several sexual assault convictions in Hopkinton, Mass.
Details Of The 2023 Incident
According to the complaint, while the plaintiff was 16 and working a shift at Hillers Pizza in 2023, Sismanis lured her into the restaurant’s basement and sexually assaulted her. The filing states she was terrified and frozen in fear; after she alerted her mother, Sismanis allegedly begged them not to contact police and attempted to block their vehicle from leaving. The plaintiff later pursued criminal charges; Sismanis was convicted in June 2025 on charges that included indecent assault, battery and witness intimidation, and was sentenced to six months in jail.
Petros "Peter" Sismanis will remain in ICE custody pending immigration hearings.
Administrative And Immigration Developments
After his conviction, Sismanis was placed in ICE custody amid questions about his immigration status; DHS officials described him as a 'criminal illegal alien' and said he was arrested by ICE Boston on Oct. 16, 2025, following his release from state custody. The plaintiff’s lawsuit, which was transferred to federal court on Jan. 5, accuses the town, the police chief and Hillers Pizza of fostering a sexually hostile work environment and seeks $1 million in damages.
Responses
An attorney representing Hopkinton officials stated the town acted appropriately and constitutionally based on the information available at the time of the license renewal. Local reporting noted that the online Sex Offender Registry Board lists classifications only after July 2013, and records from earlier years may require inquiries with local police departments.
What’s Next: The federal lawsuit will determine whether town procedures were negligent and whether officials should have intervened when the 2016 license renewal was processed. The plaintiff is seeking monetary damages for the harm she alleges.
Fox News Digital and local outlets reported on court filings and statements from DHS and lawyers; Immigration and Customs Enforcement was contacted for further comment.
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