Milton Orkopoulos, a former New South Wales Labor minister, was found guilty of assaulting teenage boys while serving as a state representative.
The 65-year-old was found guilty by a jury on 26 out of 28 charges of sexual offenses against four minor boys who he is accused of providing narcotics to during a ten-year period, concluding in 2003.
The jury began deliberating on Tuesday, and on Wednesday afternoon, they announced their decision.
On one accusation of providing illegal substances and one count of interfering with the administration of justice, Orkopoulos was found not guilty.
Orkopoulos allegedly followed the same pattern of behavior with his alleged victims, starting the grooming by inquiring as to whether they had smoked marijuana and afterwards apologizing when the sexual activity became too painful or abrasive.
The prosecutor claimed that Orkopoulos was driven by his passion for young boys sexually and acted on those urges when the opportunity presented him.
After learning that his victims’ quiet would be assured, he grew bolder and started grooming the youngsters with harsher substances like heroin.
The 65-year-old has also admitted to giving drugs to a boy in his class in Parliament House and having child abuse materials in his possession in 2006.
He will receive his punishment later.
