Thread: Australia : Man duped girls for sex, court told

Man duped girls for sex, court told
Melissa Iaria
Mon Sep 24 2012

A loner recruited young women for sex by duping them into believing they were auditioning for a job with an adult sex service, a court has been told.

Steve Onnis, 36, would trawl room-share websites daily for young, attractive girls to draw into the scam, the Victorian County Court heard on Monday.

He later admitted to police he was lonely and it was the "only way he could have sexual intercourse with beautiful girls".

Onnis pleaded guilty to six charges of procuring sexual penetration by fraud and one of attempting to procure sexual penetration by fraud.

His six victims were aged between 16 and 20.

The court heard Onnis posed as a woman called Melanie and sent the girls a text message, asking them to contact him by Skype or msn messaging if they wanted to make money.

During the online conversations, he played a recorded video with Melanie who was supposedly from an adult sex service, to dupe the girls into believing he was her.

He encouraged the girls to expose themselves and perform sex acts pretending it was part of their audition to work for her.

Onnis filmed the girls without their knowledge and then said they had to meet with a scout from the company to ensure they were right for the job.

Onnis then met the girls posing as the scout and engaged in sexual acts, filming the encounters.

He made his victims sign a fake consent form and offered his first victim $500 to perform the acts but never paid.

The court heard Onnis admitted contacting more than 100 girls for the scam.

Even after he was charged, he contacted a girl on a classifieds website with a similar offer to make money, but the girl was actually one of his previous victims.

Prosecutor Brett Sonnet said the crimes were serious, planned and targeted at young females.

Mr Sonnet said the victims would never have become involved if they'd known Melanie wasn't real and the job offer was a scam.

One victim feared images of her may end up on the internet.

"I was humiliated and lost trust in my own judgment," she said in a statement read in court.

"Steve used my body to get pleasure for his own enjoyment.

"I'm hurt and I'm living in fear that my future could be ruined by this."

Another victim wrote of her anger, hatred and shame.

Defence barrister Brendan Wilkinson said Onnis was lonely, working from home and had drifted into a world where the internet became his social life.

He agreed his client's crimes were serious but noted he had cooperated with police.

Judge Mark Gamble said general deterrence would be an important sentencing factor given it was a crime that can easily go undetected because victims may feel ashamed to come forward.

Onnis, of Malvern East, was remanded into custody for sentencing on October 10.

news.ninemsn.com.au

I used to try any trick in the book.
I reckon I'd have been locked up if i'd been born a couple of decades later.
Procuring sexual penertation by fraud? FFS, some of the lies I told to get my end away would make you blush.

Originally Posted by Mid

they were auditioning for a job with an adult sex service

Originally Posted by Mid

He encouraged the girls to expose themselves and perform sex acts

Originally Posted by Mid

I was humiliated and lost trust in my own judgment,

Originally Posted by Mid

Steve used my body to get pleasure for his own enjoyment.

Originally Posted by Mid

I'm hurt and I'm living in fear that my future could be ruined by this."

So really the only thing they have to complain about is they didn't get paid.

procuring sexual penetration by fraud

never heard of such charges... is this oz-specific...?

what were the girls thinking? why would they agree to the demands?

money does seem to be the bottom line, as Bobo said above

So one in 20 random girls will have sex for (the promise of) money?
That's a pretty good hit rate.

Thailand has a 20/20 hit rate

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

Thailand has a 20/20 hit rate

What was that movie with Robert Redford and Woody where Rob offers him a million bucks id he lets him sleep with Demi Moor for a night?

I don't know if it was ever released here, but I can imagine the overwhelming sentiment amongst the audience being "Are you insane? what are you waiting for?"

Originally Posted by Necron99

I don't know if it was ever released here, but I can imagine the overwhelming sentiment amongst the audience being "Are you insane? what are you waiting for?"

They would do it for a lot less than that.

Yep, Girls who would expose themselves etc for $500. They were happy to do it for the cash, Then they don't get paid and go to the police. FFS

16 is way to young to be even thinking about this type of thing, and the guy is a knobhead for doing it. Glad he got caught and as for the footage, its on the internet for ever and a day. Silly cows.

Originally Posted by Mid

six charges of procuring sexual penetration by fraud and one of attempting to procure sexual penetration by fraud

Never heard of that charge before. If you tell a girl you love her and want to marry her and have her babies, then slip her the trouser snake and scarper have you 'procured sexual penetration by fraud'?

Could always staple a $20 bill to the back of her head while doggying. Innocent.

Maybe only in VIC, not sure. Anyway apparently the act is over 50 years old.

Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 57

Procuring sexual penetration by threats or fraud
57. Procuring sexual penetration by threats or fraud

(1) A person must not by threats or intimidation procure a person to take part in an act of sexual penetration. Penalty: Level 5 imprisonment (10 years maximum).

(2) A person must not by any fraudulent means procure a person to take part in an act of sexual penetration. Penalty: Level 6 imprisonment (5 years maximum).

Crimes Act 1958 - SECT 57 Procuring sexual penetration by threats or fraud

Aside from the underage factor (which is serious if he was aware they were underage), I can't see any serious crime here regarding sexual nature. There is fraud for sure - but other than that?

Originally Posted by Mid

Mr Sonnet said the victims would never have become involved if they'd known Melanie wasn't real and the job offer was a scam.

It is a funny one. A large part of the prosecution's case seems to hinge on the fact that 'Melanie' didn't exist. But the girls only chatted to Melanie online. I am not sure why it is so significant that 'Melanie' was a bloke. Lots of people use fake names online. Pretending to be a different gender is more misleading but how significant is it? The girls went ahead with a very stupid activity (letting themselves be filmed having sex) but the realness of Melanie doesn't seem hugely relevant. Surely any girl going for a sex audition for a sex worker job knows they are taking a gamble with their reputation.

Not trying to defend the guy who is obviously a bit of a sleazy scumbag.

So really the only thing they have to complain about is they didn't get paid.

Reminds me of a joke.

Judge. "When did you realised you had been raped"

"As soon as the cheque bounced" said the girl.

Many people dupe each other for sex- have you read the marriage vows?

Thai girls really fall for the Modeling Agent business card and website.

Particularly the wannabe high-so white skinned ones.

Pics? Links? C'mon Mao.