Troy Andrew Reeves pleads guilty to indecent treatment of 14-year-old girl on Sunshine Coast

A former government adviser has escaped a conviction after a judge found the 45-year-old had a genuine belief the 14-year-old girl he met online was an adult before meeting in person and indecently touching her.  

Troy Andrew Reeves leaving Maroochydore District Court on Thursday. Picture: Sam Turner

A former government adviser has walked from court with no conviction after indecently dealing with a 14-year-old girl who he thought was over the age of 16.

Judge Gary Long accepted in the Maroochydore District Court on Thursday Troy Andrew Reeves held a genuine belief the victim was over the age of 16 during their sexually charged conversations on Snapchat.

However, the District Court judge said it was no longer reasonable for the 45-year-old, who was 43 years old at the time, to believe she was an adult without taking steps to confirm her age when they met in person at Kawana Shoppingworld two-and-a-half years ago.

Crown prosecutor Alex Stark said Reeves began speaking to the young girl on social media, with the court hearing he asked her for nude photographs which she sent.

The court heard the child agreed to meet with the middle-aged man at the Buddina shopping centre in 2022, but told her parents she was going to the movies with a friend.

Mr Stark said they met near the local McDonald’s and purchased drinks before they went to Reeves’ car at the rooftop car park.

Reeves pleaded guilty to both charges. Picture: Sam Turner

It was here Reeves indecently touched the 14-year-old girl before driving the pair to an industrial area near Wises Rd.

The Crown prosecutor said the Brisbane man performed sexual acts on the child until her parents started to contact her.

Mr Stark said the child told her parents she was at the movies, which they discovered was not true.

The court was told her father tracked the child by her mobile with Reeves panicking and driving off, leaving the girl at the location by herself.

She later disclosed the offending after a lapse in her mental health and Reeves was charged with two counts of indecent treatment of a child under 16. He pleaded guilty on Thursday.

He left the court on probation. Picture: Sam Turner

The court heard the girl’s mother submitted a victim impact statement which recounted the emotional toll the incident had on her daughter.

Mr Stark said it was accepted between prosecution and defence Reeves had a genuine belief the victim was 16 and over, but upon meeting her, it was not reasonable for him not to check her age.

Defence barrister Gavin Webber agreed, and said Reeves’ decision making was affected by a mental health disorder at the time, but admitted he was “reckless” as to the fact she could’ve been under 16.

Mr Webber submitted the 43-year-old further believed he was speaking to an adult due to the nature of material they were exchanging.

The barrister said according to the facts, the Brisbane man tried to contact her afterwards by a friend request on the messaging application but reiterated it was to “check in on her”.

The court heard Reeves worked as an adviser for government ministers at times as well as in the banking sector with a bachelor in commerce, however was not working currently. The Brisbane man had no criminal history.

Mr Webber said there was no evidence Reeves was sexually interested in children, but was in court due to a sexual interest in someone he believed was an adult.

Judge Long said there were exceptional circumstances for the 45-year-old not to actual serve jail time for his charges as he did not “set out” to seek a child and the “reasonable belief” Reeves had he was communicating and meeting with an adult.

Reeves was placed on three years’ probation with no conviction recorded.