More breaches of 10-year supervision

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

A “HIGH-RISK” child sex offender has appeared in Gisborne District Court for further breaches of the terms of a 10-year extended supervision order (EOS) imposed when he was released from prison in 2013.

James Stevens Kotuhi, 35, was the subject of a maximum 10-year order in August 2013 upon his release from a two years nine months prison term for the indecent assault in 2010 of a 12-year-old girl.

Judge Jonathan Down who imposed the maximum term of the order said at the time he considered Kotuhi a “high risk” and had “grave concerns and a real belief” he would reoffend.

Kotuhi faced Judge Warren Cathcart last week and admitted three charges arising out of a breach of non-contact conditions in the order.

He was sentenced to 100 hours community work.

Discussed at the sentencing hearing were previous breaches of the order by Kotuhi, which had resulted in six and nine-month prison terms.

Latest breach not as serious say defenceDefence lawyers Riki Donnelly and Ann-Jolena Baker, who appeared for Kotuhi, said this latest breach was not as serious as the two for which he had been jailed. They were also of a different nature.

Ms Baker said there needed to be some proportionate balance in dealing with Kotuhi or he would never be able to escape his past.

As a result of his new relationship, Kotuhi had in the last nine months made a turnaround.

His partner wanted him to remain in the community to support her in their pending parenthood.

Kotuhi was working with the probation service to mitigate potential issues, counsel said.

¦ Extended supervision orders are granted by the District Court or High Court on application from the chief executive of Corrections and can be in place for a period of up to 10 years. Corrections is responsible for managing them.

Corrections District Manager George Henderson said Kotuhi’s latest breach resulted from unapproved contact with specific individuals through social media.

Mr Henderson said the frequency of charges laid against Kotuhi for breaching his ESO conditions demonstrated Corrections’ commitment to his strict management by ensuring a strong and swift response to non-compliance.

“Corrections is responsible for managing sentences and orders imposed by the judiciary and New Zealand Parole Board.

“While we provide information and recommendations to judges to enable them to make informed sentencing decisions, we do not determine what those sentences are nor whether they are appropriate.”