Former NSW Liberal MP Rory Amon has been found not guilty of eight charges relating to the alleged sexual abuse of a 13-year-old boy.
Amon represented Pittwater on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and resigned from Parliament when the charges were first laid.
He faced 10 charges, pleading not guilty to all of them. Amon did not deny sexual activity occurred, but argued the teenager had told him he was 17.
The jury could not reach a verdict on two of the charges, so Amon may face a second trial.
Charges
In 2024, Amon was arrested and charged with a range of offences including sexual assaulting against a child aged between 10 and 14, and indecent assault.
The charges related to two alleged encounters after the pair first made contact on an online dating app in 2017.
Amon was 27 at the time and the complainant was 13.
The former politician pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied any criminal conduct.
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Trial
During the trial, Amon admitted to meeting and engaging in sexual activity with the teenager only once.
Prosecutors allege this was child sexual abuse, while the former MP said he believed the complainant was at least 17 at the time.
To find Amon guilty, the jury would have needed to be confident that he thought the teen was under 16.
Prosecutors argued the former politician could not reasonably believe the boy was older.
Verdict
After three days of deliberations, the jury found Amon not guilty of eight counts, all of which related to the alleged second encounter.
It could not reach a verdict on the remaining two charges related to the first encounter – rape and indecent assault of a child – leaving open the possibility of a second trial.
The prosecution must now decide whether to retry him.
