Numerous offenses – 15 years in prison and admission for pedophiles

The trial at the Wels Regional Court took place largely behind closed doors. In her opening statement at the start of the trial on November 7, the prosecutor provided “insight into the psychological depths” of the suspect. She quoted from the psychiatric report that he was a “core paedophile” and acted in a “planned and urgent pattern”. That’s why he downloaded a manual from the Internet that explains how to gain children’s trust.

Victims from the area
According to the public prosecutor, he probably also continued in the four cases in Austria. The victims between the ages of four and fourteen came from his neighborhood or the immediate surroundings. In no case was a complaint filed against the tormentor because the accused put pressure on the girls and convinced them that they had committed ‘a crime’.

Only partially known
The suspect had only partially confessed beforehand. He admitted possessing child abuse images. He claims he never inappropriately approached the three younger girls and did not have a “consensual sexual relationship” with the fourth until after his 14th birthday. According to his lawyer, he is “very remorseful” and has since been transferred from regular custody to a forensic therapeutic center. Your ‘sick’ client also wants therapy.

“No bad intentions”
“We could only prosecute what we know,” the prosecutor feared in her closing speech, saying they had exposed only “the tip of an iceberg.” The 37-year-old only gradually admitted what was clearly proven to him, and she considers his partial confession to be unsuitable as a mitigating factor. According to the psychiatric report, such acts are still to be expected and there is a “sadistic tendency on the part of the suspect that should not be underestimated”. That is why she requested a penalty in addition to a penalty. The lawyer saw a remorseful confession and asked for a lenient sentence. Her client said he “deeply” regrets his actions and said he did it “not with bad intentions.”

The judge had no doubts
The court found him guilty of multiple rapes, serious sexual abuse of minors, sexual abuse of minors, sexual coercion, abuse of authority and pornographic representation of minors – as the crime of portraying child abuse is officially called. There was “absolutely no longer any doubt” about the information provided by those involved, the judge said in her judgment. The suspect’s “very subtle and manipulative approach” became clear, as did his sadistic tendencies and lack of empathy. His confession ‘contributed nothing to finding the truth’. “We can’t imagine a worse case.” Therefore, the maximum penalty was the only option. Moreover, at least two of his victims still suffer the psychological consequences of the abuse.

Nothing legally binding
The sentence is 15 years in prison and – due to the prognosis of the danger – placement in a forensic therapeutic center. The man must also pay more than 43,000 euros in partial compensation. The Public Prosecution Service has not made a statement and the suspect has announced legal remedies. The judgment is therefore not legally binding.

The case did not gain momentum until 2022, when the US authority National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, to which suspected cases are reported by internet platforms, reported the case to Austria. Originally it involved images of child abuse in cloud storage. During the course of the investigation, it emerged that the man from the Vöcklabruck district probably also instructed women in the Philippines to abuse small children and babies in front of a rotating webcam between 2017 and 2022. According to the Public Prosecution Service, 150,000 images and videos have been found on seized data carriers.