Bevan O’Kane (53) plead guilty in August 2018 to one charge of indecently assaulting a girl under 12 years of age. He then faced a trial by jury for two further charges of indecently assaulting another girl under 12 years of age. He was sentenced at the Manukau District Court on Wednesday.
O’Kanes victims were aged between 4 and 6 and 11 and 12 when he sexually violated them. O’Kane met the victims families through the Exclusive Brethren Church. He used friendship and fellowship to groom the parents and then their children.
He offered to babysit the two young victims at their homes. One victim lived in South Auckland another in Pukekohe. He manipulated both families to get what HE wanted.
Though O’Kanes offending happened in the 1990’s both victims are still suffering the life changing damage of O’Kanes deviant sexualised behaviour. Both victims bravely shared their victim impact statements in Court – facing their abuser with incredible strength and courage.
Judge Soana Moala started O’Kanes sentence at three years BUT this was before the discounts! O’Kane received a discount for having no previous convictions and a discount for his guilty pleas, even though one of his pleas happened during his trial!!
O’Kane was sentenced to two years and five months in Prison and will be added to the Sex Offender Register.
O’Kane tried to manipulate two young children to never speak up about the sexual abuse they suffered. O’Kane tried to keep his dirty, disgusting secrets hidden. Two young victims bravely found their voice’s years later. No longer did O’Kane have the power to keep his victims silent!
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/117371844/former-exclusive-brethren-sent-to-prison-for-indecently-assaulting-young-girls