Self-confessed sex offender Megan Skye Blancada hires top legal eagles ahead of potential life sentence
An actor and reality TV star facing a maximum life sentence for child sex abuse has made a major move in a bid to save herself from an automatic prison term.
Police & Courts
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Model, actor, author, reality TV contestant and self-confessed sex offender Megan Skye Blancada has hired two of the state’s top legal minds – one of them a former judge – in her quest to stay out of jail.
On Friday, the District Court heard barrister Marie Shaw KC and solicitor Craig Caldicott would be representing Blancada ahead of her sentencing submissions.
She is facing a maximum life sentence and an automatic jail term – which SA law says cannot be suspended nor served on home detention – having admitted to sexually abusing a child.
The high-powered duo are two of the state’s most well-known legal identities, with Ms Shaw having served as a District Court judge prior to returning to the independent Bar.
Between them, Ms Shaw and Mr Caldicott have appeared in SA’s most high-profile and infamous cases including the “bodies in the barrels” serial killing spree, the fight against anti-bikie laws and numerous murder and fatal driving matters.
Last month Blancada, 34, of Salisbury East, pleaded guilty to one count of being an adult who had sexually abused a child.
Under state law, that offence carries a maximum sentence of life and cannot be suspended nor served on home detention.
Blancada has yet to plead to one count of knowingly being in possession of child exploitation material.
Previously, SA Police have alleged the offences were committed against a male under the age of 16 at various locations between January 2021 and November 2023.
Blancada’s credits include the show Who Wants To Be a Supermodel and the films Wolf Creek and Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger.
On Friday, prosecutors tendered an antecedent report with the court showing Blancada has no prior criminal history.
Ms Shaw asked the case be adjourned for several months in order to obtain a psychological report about her client.
Judge Anthony Allen remanded Blancada on continuing bail until June.
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