Justin Paul Schulze to be sentenced next week for having attempted unlawful sex with child in state care

A father who filmed his attempted abuse of a 15 year old girl in state care has been told by a judge he’ll be eligible for parole by sentencing.

A father who filmed himself trying to sexually abuse a 15-year-old girl in state care has declared in court: “I’m not a pedophile.”

Justin Paul Schulze, 46, was told by a judge to “get the ball rolling” as it’s likely he will be eligible for parole by his sentencing.

During sentencing submissions this week, the District Court Schulze picked up the victim in October 2022 before filming himself attempting to sexually abuse her.

“He kept the video which we say is indicative of his unnatural preoccupation with the child,” a prosecutor said.

Schulze pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful sexual intercourse and possessing and producing child exploitation material.

Justin Schulze pleaded guilty to attempted unlawful sexual intercourse. Photo: Instagram

He will be sentenced next week. Photo: Instagram

Oliver Morris, for Schulze, told the court his client was afraid by what his convictions would mean for volunteering in the future as he had previously volunteered in the community, including at the Kangaroo Island bushfires.

“I’m not a pedophile,” Schulz piped up.

Mr Morris said the prosecution case was that Schulze provided the victim with prescription drugs but he had only given her some Panadol with codeine as she was suffering from a headache at the time.

“There was nothing nefarious or predatory about the provision of those drugs,” he said.

The court previously heard there were at least eight other files before the court alleging abuse or grooming of the victim or her younger sister, who was also under the care of the Minister.

“It usually involves the child complainant running away from her care home and police locating her and usually there are one or more males in the area,” the prosecutor said at the time.

“And when police have questioned these men and seized their phones they’ve found communications between these males and the child complainant of a sexual nature.”

DCP chief executive Jackie Bray previously said caseworkers and staff work in partnership with SA police to safeguard children and young people who are targeted by predatory adults.

“Protocols are in place with police to ensure young people are located and returned to care as quickly and safely as possible when they are reported missing from their placement,” she said.

“Children and young people who have experienced significant trauma can be especially vulnerable to exploitation by adults.

“The department continuously looks at how we can prevent such events occurring.”

This week, the court heard that Judge Paul Muscat was prepared to sentence Schulze on the basis he believed the victim was 17.

He will sentence Schulze, who has now spent close to two and a half years in custody, next week.

“I consider you’ve served more than your non-parole period that would have been fixed for this offending conduct, so you might wish to get the ball rolling,” Judge Muscat said.

Originally published as Justin Paul Schulze to be sentenced next week for having attempted unlawful sex with child in state care