An American man faces deportation after being convicted of indecent assault in the Launceston Supreme Court on Friday.
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The 25-year-old appeared before Justice Robert Pearce, having pleaded guilty to charges relating to two indecent assaults against his former partner in 2010.
The man moved to Tasmania after beginning an online relationship with an Australian woman who he met through a mutual interest in gaming sites, the Supreme Court heard.
The woman fell pregnant with his child while visiting him in the United States and the couple went on to have two children together.
The relationship ended after he was convicted in May 2014 of sexually assaulting their four-year-old daughter and the man was sentenced to 11 months in prison, five months of which was suspended.
His partner reported the indecent assaults against her to police in December, 2014.
Justice Pearce said while the behaviour towards his partner was disturbing, “the level of criminality was not high”.
Mitigating factors were the delay in the complaint, his admissions to the police and pleas of guilty.
The man was convicted and sentenced to four months in prison, wholly suspended, and was ordered to pay a $100 victims of crime compensation levy.
“I am not satisfied that you do not present a risk of committing a reportable offence in the future,” Justice Pearce said.
His name was put on the sex offender register and he is obligated to report accordingly for 10 years from the date of his sentencing.
Upon leaving the courthouse, he was placed into an unmarked car. It is understood he was detained.
A Department of Immigration and Border Protection spokeswoman said “all visa holders must abide by the conditions imposed on their visa”.
“Character decisions are complex and require careful judgement … however the risk to the Australian community is a primary consideration,” she said.