Former Esperance high school IT technician facing historical child sex offences, 48yo Nulsen man charged

A former IT assistant at an Esperance high school accused of sexually abusing two teenage boys has pleaded guilty to assaulting one of them. James Henry Roelofs appeared in Esperance Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with a number of offences including allegations he spiked one of the teen’s drink before he allegedly assaulted them. The 48-year-old man from Nulsen is facing five historical child sexual abuse offences over incidents that allegedly happened between 2006 and 2009. During the hearing, Mr Roelofs pleaded guilty to one count of indecently dealing with a child aged over 13 but under 16 in April 2007. However, he did not enter a plea on the other four charges. It has been alleged Mr Roelofs — who was employed as an IT technician at a local high school — indecently dealt with two male teenagers. Police alleged one teenager was indecently dealt with after the man spiked his soft drink with alcohol. Mr Roelofs is expected to appear in Esperance Magistrates Court again in September in relation to the four other charges while the other charge has been referred to the District Court in November for a sentence mention hearing.