Ex- Australian Lawmaker Sentenced for Over Five Years for Sex Crimes
A former public official sentenced of sexually abusing two young men he met through work has been sentenced to five years and nine months in jail.
Trial Information
The defendant, 44, was in prison since mid-year after judicial panel convicted him of attacking one man and indecently assaulting another individual, in different occasions in over two years.
The defendant served the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the state parliament from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a Liberal Party minister when accusations surfaced in 2021 but declined to leave his seat and returned to office in last year.
Sentencing Details
Judge the court official evaluated Ward's disability of vision impairment in the ruling and concluded "no other penalty except for imprisonment would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who was present via remote connection at the courthouse, will complete at no less than 45 months in prison before he can request conditional freedom.
The judge said the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to potential criminals that sexual offendings such as this will be faced with salutary penalties".
Additional Information
Additionally stated Ward had "escaped justice for multiple years and experienced freedom without a programme or punishment for his crimes during that period".
Following the verdict, the individual initiated a failed legal bid to stay in his position and stepped down just prior to the congress could remove him.
His legal team has previously said he aims to challenge the guilty verdict.
Case Facts
His nine-week trial in the judicial venue learned that he invited a drunk 18-year-old man to his property in the first incident and sexually abused him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
In 2015, he sexually assaulted a 24-year-old government employee at his residence after a gathering at the legislature.
Ward had argued the later assault never occurred, and that the other complainant was confused about their meeting from the first incident.
The state's attorneys argued that significant resemblances in the statements of the victims, who had no connection to one another, proved they were telling the truth.
A jury deliberated for multiple days before delivering the findings of guilt.
Ward's resignation led to a by-election in his constituency in last fall, which was won by the challenger.
