A North Queensland man motivated by his own “selfish and sinister desires” has been sentenced to 12 years’ jail for the rape, sexual assault and recruitment of underage girls for sex.
Warning: This story contains details of sexual assault that some readers may find disturbing.
Charles William Gary Ottaviano previously pleaded guilty to five counts of rape, six counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16 and one count each of repeated sexual conduct with a child and sexual assault over a seven-year period.
During sentencing on Friday afternoon, the Townsville District Court heard that Ottaviano was found to have raped a child and bribed her to recruit other girls for himself and other adult men to abuse.
Four of the five complainants were under the age of 16, with the youngest aged 13 when the offences occurred.
‘Your actions are appalling’
In sentencing, Judge Nathan Jarro said Ottaviano’s offending was “motivated by your own selfish and sinister desires”.
Four of the five complainants were under the age of 16. (ABC North Queensland: Rachael Merritt)
He said the “predatory” behaviour showed “features of manipulation and corruption … money, cigarettes, alcohol, secrecy and recruitment”.
The court heard the 39-year-old supplied the girls with cash, alcohol, drugs and cigarettes in exchange for forcing them into sexual acts, committing “routine, repeated sexual conduct”.
Judge Jarro said Ottaviano targeted and manipulated “vulnerable” children, exploiting their youth, while ignoring their “obvious pain and distress”, and pleas to stop.
The court heard Ottaviano threatened one girl that she would be “bashed” if she told anyone, and laughed at another who struggled to breathe as he abused her.
Judge Jarro told Ottaviano that a complainant who was 13 at the time of offending “never wanted to have sex with you” but she was young and scared.
‘History of trauma’
When handing down the sentence, Judge Jarro said he considered Ottaviano’s traumatic and “deprived” past, where drugs, sex and violence “sadly became the norm”.
Judge Jarro noted Ottaviano had undergone sexual offenders’ treatment in late 2024.
Ottaviano has already served two years of his 12-year sentence in pre-sentence custody.
No parole eligibility date has been set.