Former Down Under Politician Sentenced for More Than Five Years for Sex Crimes
One-time public official found guilty of assaulting two young men connected through his position was given to 69 months in prison.
Trial Information
The defendant, forty-four, has been in custody since last summer after judicial panel convicted him of sexually assaulting an individual and sexually abusing another, in separate incidents in over two years.
Ward represented the coastal town of the regional area in the state legislature from 2011. He left his position as a political party minister when the claims came to light in 2021 but declined to leave parliament and returned to office in 2023.
Judgment Information
Justice the judicial figure considered the defendant's condition of vision impairment in the ruling and found "no different consequence except for detention is appropriate".
The convicted individual, who participated via remote connection at the courthouse, will serve at no less than 45 months in detention before he can seek parole.
Justice Shead said the judicial system needs to "issue a clear statement to similar individuals that criminal acts of this nature will be subject to significant consequences".
Additional Information
She also said the convicted man had "avoided punishment for multiple years and enjoyed a life without a treatment or punishment for his actions during that time".
Following the verdict, Ward launched a rejected legal bid to remain in government and resigned moments before the members could expel him.
Defense attorneys has stated earlier he intends to challenge the ruling.
Incident Details
The defendant's lengthy proceedings in the judicial venue was told that he brought a drunk 18-year-old man to his residence in 2013 and sexually abused him three times, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
In 2015, he raped a young office worker at his property after a gathering at the legislature.
He had claimed the later assault didn't happen, and that the additional accuser was confused about their interaction from the first incident.
But the prosecution maintained that striking similarities in the accounts of the victims, who did not know one another, showed they were telling the truth.
Court members debated for multiple days before announcing the findings of guilt.
Ward's resignation prompted a replacement vote in the district in autumn, which was claimed by the opposition party.
