51-year-old John Long, formerly of Young, was sentenced in Wagga District Court earlier this month following being found guilty of 11 out of 13 charges relating to historical sexual offences against a minor and was sentenced on March 7.
In the written judgement District Court Judge Lerve sentenced Long to an aggregrate sentence of 12 years with a non parole period of eight years starting from October 13, 2024.
Long will be eligible for parole on October 13, 2032.
Two of the offences that Long was found guilty of were in Young with the remainder happening in or near the Sydney and South Coast areas.
According to the written judgement, the offending began when the victim was only four or five years of age and continued until the victim was 12.
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According to the written judgement Long appeared in Wagga District Count on October 1, 2024 and pleaded not guilty to each of 13 counts on the indictment and following the trial, on October 14, 2024 the jury returned verdicts of guilty to 11 of those counts.
Long was found guilty of five counts of aggravated indecent assault - victim under 16 years, four counts of indecent assault where victim under the age of 10 years, one count of sexual intercourse with person under the age of 10 years, two counts of sexual intercourse with person 10 or over and under 16 and one count of sexual intercourse - person 10 and under 16 - under authority.
In his judgement Judge Lerve found there were factors that needed to be taken into consideration throughout the sentencing.
"There is the factor of a breach of trust in each of the matters," Judge Lerve said.
"The significant age difference between the victim and the Offender is relevant in all matters."
According to Judge Lerve's judgement Long had known the victim and their family for a long time and had an established connection to them.
The judgement highlighted the 'predatory' nature of the offending and how he was 'opportunistic'.
Some cases which the Judge said were 'particularly brazen', given the proximity to family members.
According to the written judgement the victim told their mother about the offending in 2000.
"On 23 May 2000 the victim was interviewed by staff attached to the Child Abuse Squad and Department of Community Services," Judge Lerve said.
"The investigation was later discontinued when the victim’s father made a statement to the effect that the victim did not wish to continue with the matter."
The investigation was reopened and Long was arrested and charged on June 7, 2023.
