Source: Radio New Zealand
Howard Temple The Press/Kai Schwoerer
The lawyer for convicted sex offender and former Gloriavale leader Howard Temple says his client has won a High Court appeal against his sentence and will not be going to jail.
Temple was sentenced to 26 months’ jail in December for indecently assaulting young women and girls at the West Coast Christian community over 20 years.
The 85-year-old immediately appealed and has been on bail.
At a hearing in February, Temple’s lawyer Michael Vesty argued the sentence was excessive, given his age, bail conditions and cognitive impairment.
He argued that the sentence should be reduced to two years or less to allow for home detention.
On Tuesday, Vesty confirmed Temple would not be jailed and said his client was pleased the matter had concluded.
Temple was arrested in 2023 and denied the offending until part-way through his 2025 trial when he pled guilty to amended charges.
He admitted five counts of indecent assault, five of doing an indecent act and two of common assault – many of the charges were representative.
Temple was in a position of power at Gloriavale when the offending against six girls and young women happened between 2002 and 2022.
Temple resigned as Overseeing Shepherd in December, with Stephen Standfast taking on the leadership role.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
