Ex- Down Under Lawmaker Imprisoned for Above 60 Months for Sex Crimes
An ex- lawmaker found guilty of sexually abusing two individuals connected through professional activities has been sentenced to five years and nine months in prison.
Trial Information
The defendant, mid-forties, was in prison since July after the court determined his guilt of sexually assaulting one man and attacking another individual, in multiple events in over two years.
The politician acted for the oceanfront municipality of Kiama in the NSW government from over a decade ago. He stepped down as a government minister when the claims surfaced in 2021 but refused to quit his seat and won again in 2023.
Court Ruling
The presiding officer the judicial figure took into account his visual impairment of legal blindness in the ruling and concluded "no other penalty besides incarceration would be suitable".
The defendant, who was present via video-link at the judicial venue, will complete at minimum three years and nine months in prison before he can request parole.
Justice Shead said the court needs to "issue a clear statement to like-minded offenders that illegal behaviors of this nature will be met with serious punishments".
Case Background
The judge added Ward had "evaded consequences for multiple years and experienced freedom free from a programme or consequence for his actions during those years".
After his conviction, Ward launched a rejected legal bid to continue in government and stepped down shortly before the legislature could oust him.
Defense attorneys has indicated before he intends to contest the ruling.
Trial Evidence
Ward's extended court case in the judicial venue was told that he brought a inebriated 18-year-old man to his home in 2013 and sexually abused him on multiple occasions, despite the victim's efforts to oppose.
In 2015, he attacked a 24-year-old political staffer at his property after an event at the legislature.
He had argued the second incident never occurred, and that the other complainant was misremembering their interaction from the first incident.
The state's attorneys maintained that notable parallels in the testimonies of the individuals, who did not know one another, demonstrated they were being honest.
Court members debated for 72 hours before announcing the guilty verdicts.
His departure caused a by-election in his constituency in September, which was claimed by the opposition party.
