Previous Australian Public Figure Imprisoned for Over Half a Decade for Sex Crimes
One-time lawmaker sentenced of sexually abusing two individuals connected through his position received a sentence to 69 months in jail.
Case Details
Gareth Ward, 44, remained in jail since last summer after judicial panel found him guilty of sexually assaulting a victim and indecently assaulting a second person, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.
The defendant acted for the coastal town of the regional area in the state government from over a decade ago. He resigned as a political party cabinet member when the claims emerged in recent years but declined to leave parliament and returned to office in 2023.
Sentencing Details
Justice the judicial figure evaluated his visual impairment of legal blindness in her sentence and concluded "no other penalty besides detention would be suitable".
The convicted individual, who appeared via digital means at the judicial venue, will complete at minimum three years and nine months in prison before he can request parole.
The judge stated the legal system needs to "deliver a strong warning to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors such as this will be faced with significant consequences".
Further Details
The judge added the defendant had "evaded consequences for ten years and experienced freedom without a treatment or penalty for the offenses during that time".
Following the verdict, the politician attempted a unsuccessful appeal attempt to remain in government and stepped down moments before the legislature could remove him.
His legal team has indicated before he plans to contest the conviction.
Case Facts
His extended court case in the judicial venue heard that he invited a inebriated young adult to his residence in 2013 and indecently assaulted him on multiple occasions, despite resistance attempts to oppose.
Two years later, he raped a mid-twenties government employee at his property after a function at the legislature.
Ward had maintained the second incident was fabricated, and that the additional accuser was misremembering their meeting from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys argued that striking similarities in the statements of the two men, who did not know one another, proved they were being honest.
Court members considered for multiple days before returning the guilty verdicts.
Ward's resignation led to a by-election in Kiama in September, which was won by the Labor candidate.
