Dance teacher Rolando Garcia-Callaba found guilty of rape and indecent assault after trial

A woman has confronted a predatory dance teacher who indecently assaulted her and raped another in their cars, saying her motivation for coming forward was her daughter.

A dance teacher who raped a woman and indecently assaulted another after they gave him lifts home has been confronted by one of his victims in court.

Rolando Garcia-Callaba, 38, is now in custody after one of the women he preyed on said she had lost her faith in people because of his vile act.

During Garcia-Callaba’s trial in August, the District Court heard the first victim gave Garcia-Callaba a lift home in 2017.

Ahura Kalali, for the prosecution, told the court Garcia-Callaba asked her to pull over before he exposed himself to her.

“He told her to touch it, she refused,” he said.

The court heard Garcia-Callaba then grabbed her hand by force to touch it.

Ronald Garcia-Callaba preyed on the two women during lifts home. Photo: Facebook

Rolando Garcia-Callaba was found guilty of rape and indecent assault. Picture: File

“After some time she was told by him that he didn’t want his wife to find out and that she shouldn’t tell anyone,” Mr Kalali said.

The court heard another woman attended gave Garcia-Callaba a lift at the end of a different night out.

Mr Kalali said Garcia-Callaba asked her to pull over and pushed the seat back, before raping her.

“She will say that she was saying no and trying to push him away,” Mr Kalali said.

Mr Kalali said the victim complied with Garcia-Callaba’s requests, including a sexual act on herself, out of fear.

Garcia-Callaba was found guilty by a jury of rape, compelling sexual self-manipulation and indecent assault.

A victim impact statement from the first victim was read to the District Court this week by Mr Kalali.

The victim said she stopped going to certain places because she was worried she’d see Garcia-Callaba there.

Ronald Garcia-Callaba was confronted by one of his victims in court, who said she has now lost her faith in people because of him. Photo: Facebook

“I didn’t think twice about offering you a lift home,” she said.

“I never expected you would take advantage of the situation and I was shocked that you would do something that I did not give consent to.

“In that moment I froze, I was so embarrassed. I was so frightened that you were disrespectful to me.”

The victim said she used to be a happy, go lucky person but had now lost her faith in people, with Garcia-Callaba’s offending like a “dark cloud” following her around.

She said her motivation for speaking up was her daughter.

“I would be horrified to think that something like this could happen to her,” she said.

“I have stood up because I want to do my part in stopping anything like this ever happening to anyone else.”

Rob Walker, for Garcia-Callaba, asked the court for an adjournment of sentencing submissions as they were waiting for a report.

Garcia-Callaba was remanded in custody with his charges adjourned until February.