Ex- Down Under Public Figure Sentenced for Above Half a Decade for Sex Crimes
A former lawmaker convicted of attacking two young men encountered via professional activities has been sentenced to 69 months in jail.
Trial Information
The defendant, forty-four, remained in custody since July after judicial panel convicted him of attacking one man and indecently assaulting another, in separate incidents in over two years.
The politician represented the seaside community of the district in the NSW legislature from 2011. He stepped down as a Liberal Party minister when accusations emerged in 2021 but declined to leave parliament and was re-elected in 2023.
Court Ruling
Justice the judicial figure evaluated his visual impairment of legal blindness in her sentence and found "no other penalty except for imprisonment would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who participated via video-link at the judicial venue, will complete at no less than nearly four years in prison before he can request parole.
Justice Shead said the court needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that criminal acts such as this will be faced with serious punishments".
Further Details
Additionally stated the defendant had "escaped justice for a decade and experienced freedom free from a rehabilitation program or consequence for his crimes during that period".
After his conviction, Ward initiated a unsuccessful legal bid to stay in his position and resigned shortly before the congress could expel him.
Representatives has indicated before he intends to contest the guilty verdict.
Trial Evidence
His extended court case in the NSW District Court learned that he asked a inebriated young adult to his home in 2013 and indecently assaulted him repeatedly, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
In 2015, he raped a young political staffer at his property after a gathering at government offices.
The defendant had claimed the 2015 rape didn't happen, and that the first victim was confused about their meeting from 2013.
The state's attorneys contended that striking similarities in the testimonies of the two men, who did not know the other, proved they were accurate in their accounts.
The panel debated for three days before announcing the findings of guilt.
His departure caused a replacement vote in his constituency in last fall, which was won by the challenger.
