Rory Amon, a 37-year-old former Australian deputy, has been convicted of child abuse charges. The conviction was made on Friday at the Supreme Court after a trial. Amon was found guilty of taking a 13-year-old boy to a hotel room and engaging in indecent acts with him. The court heard that Amon had met the boy online through a social media platform for adults.
The court found that Amon and the boy had agreed to meet in 2017 at a parking lot below a building where the boy lived. Amon claimed he believed the boy was 17 years old, although in reality, he was 13. The boy had told his teacher about the incident, leading to an investigation by the police. Amon was working in the office of a deputy representing the Mackellar area in the Australian government at the time.
Amon became a deputy representing the Pittwater area in New South Wales after serving two terms in the Northern Beaches Council. In 2023, he was expelled from the Liberal Party following allegations of child abuse. This is the second time Amon has been tried at the Supreme Court on child abuse charges. In the first trial in March, the court found him not guilty of eight charges related to child abuse.
However, the court was unable to reach a verdict on two charges related to the same 13-year-old boy. The charges Amon was convicted of on Friday relate to these two outstanding charges. The court heard that Amon and the boy had met online through a social media platform for adults seeking casual encounters.
Amon denied all charges against him, although he admitted to engaging in indecent acts with the boy. He claimed he believed the boy was over 16 and did not know he was underage. Amon is currently free on bail pending sentencing on November 27, 2026.
Amon is the third former deputy representing New South Wales to be convicted of child abuse charges in recent years. In 2025, former Minister Gareth Ward was sentenced to prison after being convicted of abusing two teenage boys. In 2023, Milton Orkopoulos was convicted of abusing teenage boys while serving as a deputy in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.
The conviction of Rory Amon has raised concerns about child abuse and exploitation in Australian politics. The case highlights the need for greater vigilance and protection for children from abuse and exploitation. Amon's case will be closely watched as it raises questions about how those in positions of power can exploit their authority to abuse children.
Key points
- Amon was convicted of taking a 13-year-old boy to a hotel room and engaging in indecent acts with him.
- This is the second time Amon has been tried at the Supreme Court on child abuse charges.
- Amon is currently free on bail pending sentencing on November 27, 2026.
