SA court dismissed drugs, child abuse charges against Jason Scott Hoppo over alleged sexual assault of ward of the state, 14
A court has thrown out charges against a man accused of plying a girl, 14, with meth and sexually assaulting her – saying police took too long to investigate.
Police & Courts
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A court has thrown out claims a father of six plied a ward of the state with meth and sexually assaulted her – even though police are likely to rearrest him on the same charges.
Jason Scott Hoppo faced the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday on multiple child abuse and drugs charges dating back to August 2022.
The hearing was SA Police prosecutors’ third and final opportunity to finalise their case – but they told Magistrate Karim Soetratma that still had yet to occur.
They said the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had reviewed the case but declined to make a determination, asking instead the alleged victim be reinterviewed.
That new interview had, they said, already taken place – and the alleged victim, 14, maintained her allegations – but had yet to be transcribed.
Counsel for Mr Hoppo said their client had already waited seven months for police to make their case, spending much of that time in custody, and should walk free from court.
Magistrate Karim Soetratma agreed.
“Given the history of the matter, this is one of those cases in which it’s appropriate to make an application and grant an application for dismissal of the charges,” he said.
“I do so … as I’m sure prosecutors are aware, this does not preclude them from re-laying these charges.”
Mr Hoppo, 52, of Elizabeth Vale, was charged with two aggravated counts of indecent assault and one aggravated count of inciting an indecent act by a child.
He was further charged with supplying or administering a controlled drug to a child.
Previously, prosecutors alleged Mr Hoppo met the girl outside a northern suburbs hospital, gave her meth, invited her to his home and sexually assaulted her.
They further alleged the girl had to be hospitalised as a result of the assault.
On Thursday, a police prosecutor urged the court not to dismiss the charges despite the lengthy delay in the case.
“The second interview has been conducted, there were some difficulties with the arrangements as a result of the state of mind of the complainant,” he said.
“In that interview, she did indicate that Hoppo performed numerous sexual actions, and that he threatened her if she were to let anyone know what had occurred.”
He asked the case be postponed for 10 weeks to send the new interview to the ODPP, but Mr Soetratma refused and dismissed the charges.
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