Source: Radio New Zealand
St John
Just a day after performing a crude act in a social worker’s office, Everest Oketopa repeatedly groped a paramedic in the back of an ambulance.
He was so insistent that the healthcare professional had to move to the front of the vehicle to avoid him.
Recently, the Waikato man appeared in the Hamilton District Court for sentencing on charges of assaulting a probation officer, after punching him in the face, doing an indecent act, and indecent assault.
Judge Kim Saunders had to decide whether to hand down a prison term, which would likely see him freed on a time-served basis, or give intensive supervision to help with his rehabilitation.
The first incident, in October last year, involved Oketopa punching a probation officer in the face, without warning, while he spoke with him and his family.
The next day, he was in his social worker’s office speaking to her when he suddenly stood up and began playing with the drawstring of his pants.
He then performed an indecent act and was quickly asked to leave.
Later that same day, he called an ambulance to get a mental health assessment in hospital.
While on the journey, he touched the paramedic “a number of occasions” on her leg.
After telling him to stop and pushing his hand away, the victim ended up moving to the front passenger seat.
‘No one wants to see that’
Judge Saunders noted Oketopa had attended a restorative justice conference with all of the victims, “that seems to have been positive for all”.
He told them he was now committed to re-engaging in treatment programmes, focusing on his mental health, taking his medication, and respecting emergency and professional workers.
He also assured them that he would identify himself if he needed their help again so that the victim didn’t have to deal with him.
Oketopa was already serving a sentence of intensive supervision for charges of assault, shoplifting, threatening behaviour, and possession of an offensive weapon at the time of the recent offending.
“There’s no doubt that your offending, which began as it has in 2025, is a direct result of your deteriorating mental health.
“You have drug-induced psychosis and alcohol and poly-substance abuse disorder.
“You have a significant history of using alcohol and drugs, particularly cannabis and methamphetamine, since your early childhood.”
Judge Saunders said it was clear to her that there was a nexus between Oketopa’s drug use and his offending.
He also appeared remorseful.
She regarded his offending as spontaneous, but “determined conduct”.
“All indecent assaults are serious because you are touching someone who does not want to be touched.
“All she was doing was trying to make you as safe and comfortable as possible.”
As for his indecent act, “no one wants to see that”, she told him.
She convicted Oketopa, issued him a first strike warning on the indecent assault charge as it was a qualifying offence, and sentenced him to 18 months’ intensive supervision.
This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
