A former Esperance youth group leader was sentenced to two years and eight months’ imprisonment for stupefying and sexually assaulting two teenage boys nearly 20 years ago.
James Roelofs, 49, was arrested in July 2024 on two charges of stupefying and three counts of indecent dealings with a child over 13 and under 16.
State prosecutor Shaban Azad said on unknown dates between March 2006 and March 2008, Roelofs invited a then 14- or 15-year-old he had met at the youth group to his home in Nulsen.
The court heard the child had been to Roelof’s house on more than one occasion.
Mr Azad said the victim’s parents were drug users so he had limited access to food at home.
Mr Azad said while the boy was at Roelofs house, they would watch movies, eat food and play video games together.
On one of the incidents in question, Mr Azad said Roelofs provided the teenager with several cups of soft drink with large amounts of alcohol, unbeknownst to the child.
He said they were watching TV under blankets when the offender sexually touched the boy’s genital area.
On a separate unknown date after the first incident, the court heard the victim went on a bushwalk with Roelofs and was given soft drink with alcohol again.
The court heard the victim went home for a nap and later went back to Roelofs’ house where he consumed more soft drink which made him intoxicated.
Mr Azad said Roelofs sexually assaulted the teenage boy for two minutes.
He said the victim froze and said: “can you get off me please” before Roelofs started crying and said: “can you forgive me.”
On another occasion in the same time period, the court heard Roelofs invited a 13-year-old boy on a group camping trip to Cape Arid where he sexually touched the teenager through his clothes in the tent.
The court heard that during Roelofs initial police interview, he denied all allegations claiming they were “silly and fake” and “ridiculous and nonsensical.”
He also said he felt “attacked” and said the victims “must have a false memory.”
The court heard Roelofs returned to police soon later and made a full confession.
Roelofs was a hyperactive but intelligent boy who had a difficult upbringing, the court heard.
He began a physics degree at Murdoch but dropped out and returned to Esperance where he had several jobs, including a computer technician at Esperance Senior High School.
Roelofs defence lawyer Johnson Kitto said Roelofs had a conflict between his deeply religious views and his sexuality.
The court heard Roelofs became heavily involved in church through his grandparents.
It was also stated that following the incidents in the early 2000s, Roelofs made full confessions to his pastor and had received pastoral guidance.
Mr Kitto said Roelofs had engaged in counselling and rehabilitation courses to address his issues.
He said the court should take into account Roelofs’ risk to the community considering the length of time it had been since the offences took place.
“Looking at future terms, Mr Roelofs is no harm to anybody,” Mr Kitto said.
Judge Mara Barone said as a youth group leader Roelofs was supposed to be a mentor to young people and said the victims had been significantly impacted by his actions.
“It goes without saying that this is obviously serious offending,” Judge Barone said.
Judge Barone considered Roelofs’ remorse which she interpreted from the fact he confessed to police, after initially denying it, and had actively participated in counselling and rehabilitation courses.
Judge Barone gave Roelofs a 25 per cent discount for an early guilty plea.
As the charges were related, Judge Barone served a concurrent sentence for three of the five counts and a cumulative sentence for one of them.
Roelofs was remanded in custody immediately as Judge Barone said it was “wholly inappropriate to suspend the term of imprisonment.”
Roelofs is set to remain in prison until early 2028 but will be eligible for parole in late 2026.
