Former Down Under Public Figure Sentenced for More Than 60 Months for Sex Crimes
An ex- lawmaker convicted of attacking two victims connected through professional activities has been sentenced to 69 months in detention.
Legal Proceedings
Gareth Ward, forty-four, has been in jail since last summer after a jury determined his guilt of attacking an individual and indecently assaulting a second person, in multiple events in 2013 then 2015.
Ward served the seaside community of the regional area in the NSW government from the year 2011. He stepped down as a Liberal Party official when the claims surfaced in 2021 but declined to leave the legislature and was re-elected in last year.
Court Ruling
The presiding officer the court official evaluated his visual impairment of legal blindness in her sentence and determined "no different consequence except for imprisonment would be suitable".
The defendant, who participated via digital means at the judicial venue, will serve at minimum three years and nine months in prison before he can apply for conditional freedom.
The court official said the judicial system needs to "deliver a strong warning to similar individuals that criminal acts like these will be met with salutary penalties".
Further Details
She also said the convicted man had "avoided punishment for ten years and lived freely without a programme or consequence for his crimes during that period".
Post-trial, the individual launched a rejected appeal attempt to remain in parliament and left office moments before the congress could oust him.
Defense attorneys has previously said he intends to appeal the conviction.
Case Facts
His lengthy proceedings in the state court heard that he invited a drunk 18-year-old man to his home in the first incident and attacked him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
In 2015, he attacked a young government employee at his residence after a function at parliament.
Ward had claimed the later assault was fabricated, and that the other complainant was inaccurate regarding their meeting from the earlier year.
The state's attorneys argued that notable parallels in the statements of the two men, who were unacquainted with the other, showed they were accurate in their accounts.
Court members considered for three days before returning the findings of guilt.
Ward's resignation prompted a by-election in the district in last fall, which was secured by the opposition party.