R v Scholz [2023] NSWDC 222

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Scholz [2023] NSWDC 222 Hearing dates: 16, 23 June 2023 Date of orders: 23 June 2023 Decision date: 23 June 2023 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 151 - 152 Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sentencing – sexual offences – sexual touching of child – aggravated sexual touching – aggravated sexual assault - two victims – offender occupied senior leadership position within a Brigade of the Rural Fire Service of NSW – significance of 'grooming' and 'exploitation' as factors – whether prior good character and absence of prior convictions can be taken into account as mitigating factors - significance of offender having Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 61I, 61J, 61KD, 66DB, 66EB, 66EC Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 3A, 5, 21A, 25AA, 46 Cases Cited: Bhatia v The Queen [2023] NSWCCA 12 Cheung v The Queen (2001) 209 CLR 1 DH v R [2022] NSWCCA 200 DPP (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1 EG v R [2015] NSWCCA 21 Geagea v R [2020] NSWCCA 350 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120 PC v R [2022] NSWCCA 107 R v BA [2014] NSWCCA 148 R v Lau [2022] NSWCCA 131 R v Nelson [2016] NSWCCA 130 R v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270 R v Youkhana [2004] NSWCCA 412 RH v R [2019] NSWCCA 64 Savvas v The Queen (1995) 183 CLR 1 Walsh v R [2015] NSWCCA 83 Texts Cited: S Odgers Sentence (6th ed), Longueville Media Category: Sentence Parties: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Mr M Scholz (offender) Representation: Counsel: Ms M Heywood for the Crown Mr J Tyler-Stott for the offender