A former Esperance foster parent who sexually abused a teenage girl in his care on multiple occasions has had his appeal dismissed in court.
Treva Graham Beck, 58, was originally sentenced to five-and-a-half-years imprisonment in 2023, guilty of eight sexual offences against a 14-year-old child.
His sentence was later increased in 2024 to seven years and nine months after the State appealed his sentence.
The State claimed Beck’s sentence did not fully represent the victim’s vulnerability because Beck knew the girl had previously been a victim of sexual assault.
The victim and her sister lived with the Beck family, including the offender’s wife and two children, between 2012 and 2013.
During the first incident Beck asked the victim to enter his bedroom via text messages before sexually abusing her.
Other offences occurred while Beck was driving his wife’s car, in a shed on their property, in Beck’s truck and at Beck’s worksite.
Beck’s defence appealed on the basis the trial judge had made incorrect decisions on a question of law, or a miscarriage of justice, in two instances.
The defence claimed that at the time of trial the jury were told they could use evidence of Beck’s uncharged actions, and pretext calls, as evidence of character.
A complaint was also submitted by Beck’s defence stating the trial procedure was unjust because the defence was not given the opportunity to object the use of such evidence.
Beck’s lawyer submitted the appeal in November 2024 for an extension for the grounds to be considered.
The Supreme Court of Appeals claimed the trial judge did not make an error in his directions. The extension of time was rejected, and the appeal was dismissed on April 17.
