A man who sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl in his car has dodged a lengthy jail term, with a judge saying there were “exceptional circumstances” that warranted a discounted sentence.
Some in the public gallery of the County Court of Victoria today were visibly angry when Joshua Emonson, 24, was jailed for 12 months over the attack.
One woman in the courtroom stuck her middle finger up at Emonson’s family and his supporters, while others heckled them as they left the building.
The County Court heard Emonson spoke to the girl on the kids’ messaging app Wizz and on Snapchat, and said he wanted to “be her first” after she told him she was 13.
On the night of February 20, 2025, Emonson drove to the Sunbury train station to meet the girl, who had travelled from the other side of Melbourne.
He sexually assaulted her for about 20 minutes in his sports car and then drove off, leaving her alone at the station.
Emonson was addicted to pornography and later told police he committed the offence because he wanted to “feel something”, the court heard.
Judge Kellie Blair said sexual assaults on teenagers were “all too common” and that perpetrators could expect “significant punishment in the form of a lengthy jail term”.
However in Emonson’s case, the judge said, exceptional circumstances applied to warrant a “significant” sentencing discount.
Judge Blair said Emonson’s actions were impulsive, rather than predatory.
She said he was now a young man who was remorseful, committed to change, and had received positive character references.
After Emonson serves his 12-month sentence, he will need to complete 200 hours of community work and will be a registered sex offender for 15 years.
The judge said he would have been sentenced to two years and eight months’ jail if he had not pleaded guilty and taken his case to trial.
Judge Blair said she had also considered the impact of the crime on the young victim, who has since moved interstate.
Emonson today appeared in court via videolink from the Melbourne Assessment Prison.
The court gallery was full with members of his church who attended in support and others who turned up in protest of his actions.
Crime ’caused a divide’ in church
At the time of the offence, Emonson worked at a childcare centre run by the Encourage Pentecostal church in Romsey, where his father, Tim, was the head pastor.
Emonson had previously been a youth leader at the church.
Though Emonson’s criminal offence was unrelated to the church, critics accused Encourage’s leadership team of concealing the allegations from childcare centre parents and the wider congregation.
The handling of the matter caused a rift in the church, leading some members to quit.
The Encourage Pentecostal church in Romsey. (Supplied)
Two of those were Pastor Tino Fichera and his wife Mia, who were in court to watch the sentencing hearing.
The pair said there was shock and disbelief when allegations against Emonson surfaced.
“The fact that he was a senior pastor’s son, that gave him a level of trust without saying anything,” Pastor Fichera said.
“The community is so small and so tight-knit. The church has become part of the fabric of the community and unfortunately many people have been affected by it and it has caused a divide.”
Emonson is facing other charges that he is expected to contest, the court heard on Tuesday.
