George Omelvena, 25, stood before the Invercargill District Court after confessing to three charges of engaging in sexual activities with a minor under 16. Judge Mark Williams noted that these charges represented “the full gamut” of violations.
Defense attorney Scott Williamson emphasized that Omelvena had no prior criminal record, showed positive prospects for rehabilitation, and therefore argued for a sentence of home detention.
However, Judge Williams highlighted Omelvena’s “victim-blaming” mentality, which emerged during a Probation interview.
In court, Omelvena claimed the encounters were consensual, citing “mutual attraction,” and even suggested that the victim initiated the incidents.
Judge Williams acknowledged some remorse from Omelvena but remarked, “In my view, there’s also a degree of remorse for the position you’ve found yourself in.”
The victim, through tears, shared the profound impact the ordeal had on her life during her statement at the hearing’s outset.
She expressed, “I didn’t choose panic attacks, flashbacks, or the fear that comes out of nowhere. My life has become about trying to cope with something that should never have happened to me.”
The teenager has been diagnosed with PTSD following the incidents.
“This was not a mistake he made, this was a choice he made, a choice that has followed me every day,” she said. “I am still a teenager but I will live with this forever.”
The initial incident occurred in July 2024 when Omelvena sent the victim an inappropriate photo over social media.
Upon confrontation, when she told him “you can’t do that,” he demanded she remove her clothes and pulled her onto the bed.
“You wanted it,” he allegedly told her.
The second violation happened the next month when Omelvena woke the girl from her sleep and assaulted her again.
The last incident took place in January the following year.
Crown prosecutor Mary-Jane Thomas highlighted the seven-month duration of the abuse and the variety of acts committed by Omelvena.
Judge Williams agreed, stating, “It was not one-off offending on your part, it was persistent.”
The Probation report also raised concerns for Judge Williams.
“You’ve tried, to some extent, to blame the victim here rather than accepting full responsibility for what you have done,” he said.
He referenced victim-impact statements as evidence of the distress Omelvena caused.
The victim’s mother also addressed the court.
She asserted, “Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to blame a child for being the victim of a predator should be ashamed. Yet even now, you continue to act as though you have done nothing wrong. The only person you seem concerned about in all of this is yourself.”
“What you have done has changed our lives forever, and that weight is yours to carry. I hope it haunts you forever.”
Omelvena was sentenced to 25 months in prison and was added to the Child Sex Offender Register.
He was also ordered to pay the victim $3,200.
