Former Down Under Lawmaker Sentenced for Above Half a Decade for Sexual Offenses
An ex- lawmaker found guilty of sexually abusing two young men encountered via his position has been sentenced to 69 months in jail.
Trial Information
The defendant, mid-forties, has been in jail since July after a jury determined his guilt of raping one man and sexually abusing another individual, in separate incidents in 2013 then 2015.
The politician served the oceanfront municipality of the regional area in the NSW legislature from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a Liberal Party cabinet member when the claims emerged in 2021 but declined to leave his seat and won again in 2023.
Judgment Information
Judge the judicial figure evaluated the defendant's condition of vision impairment in the ruling and concluded "no alternative punishment besides incarceration could be considered".
The convicted individual, who participated via digital means at Parramatta District Court, will serve at minimum three years and nine months in custody before he can apply for parole.
The judge stated the legal system needs to "send a stern message to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors such as this will be subject to serious punishments".
Further Details
The judge added the defendant had "escaped justice for a decade and lived freely free from a programme or penalty for his actions during those years".
Following the verdict, Ward initiated a unsuccessful legal bid to stay in government and stepped down just prior to the congress could remove him.
Representatives has stated earlier he plans to contest the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
His nine-week trial in the state court heard that he invited a intoxicated teenager to his property in the first incident and indecently assaulted him three times, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
In 2015, he attacked a mid-twenties office worker at his property after a function at government offices.
The defendant had argued the later assault never occurred, and that the other complainant was inaccurate regarding their encounter from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys argued that striking similarities in the testimonies of the victims, who did not know the other, proved they were telling the truth.
Court members deliberated for 72 hours before delivering the findings of guilt.
The political exit led to a by-election in his constituency in autumn, which was won by the challenger.
