A Lavington man who stood accused of an indecent assault from well over 30 years ago has decided to plead guilty to the matter.
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Fronting court in a wheelchair and assisted by a carer, Geoffrey Allen Cox made no comment when the matter went before magistrate Rodney Brender.
Instead, his pleas were entered on his behalf by solicitor Mark Cronin.
Mr Cronin told Mr Brender that his client “due to the fact he is in a wheelchair” had “significant medical issues”.
The 69-year-old pleaded guilty to charges of indecent assault on a male and procure an indecent assault on a male.
Given his physical difficulties, Cox was able to remain seated in his wheelchair in the public gallery while the matter went before the court.
The guilty pleas came after Director of Public Prosecutions representative Lucy Patterson withdrew a charge of sexual assault of a person under the age of 16 years.
Mr Brender then asked Mr Cronin about the possible sentencing options for Cox, given that his physical limitations precluded him from such possibilities as an intensive corrections order.
“Would home detention be an option?” he asked.
“Yes,” Mr Cronin replied.
However, any sentence of home detention will not be on the table until the preparation of a sentencing assessment report.
The indecent assault on a male charge relates to an incident that occurred at Narrandera between 12.01am on September 13, 1981, and 11.59pm on September 12, 1982, when Cox was aged in his early 30s.
The second charge of procure an indecent act on a male person occurred, again at Narrandera, some time in 1983.
An outline by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the agreed facts of the offending that resulted in the charges, along with Cox’s criminal record, were handed to Mr Brender by Ms Patterson.
But for legal reasons, these details were not available for public release.
Mr Brender ordered that Cox re-appear in Albury Local Court for sentencing on January 16, 2018.
Bail for Cox was continued.
Meanwhile, in another Director of Public Prosecutions case handled in Albury this week, a young man pleaded guilty to two drugs charges.
Again represented by Mr Cronin, Christian Jackson admitted to charges of supply and possess an illicit drug.
The facts outlining what took place were not put before Mr Brender. Jackson, supported in court by a family member, will be sentenced on November 6.
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