A child sex offender has been found guilty of a jailhouse plot to kidnap two witnesses preparing to testify against him in an upcoming abuse trial.
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But a jury has cleared Aaron James Holliday, 28, of inciting another inmate to murder the witnesses, who were brothers of his abuse victims.
Holliday planned to use $7000, a car, and his computer skills as down payment for the kidnapping, in an attempt to pervert the course of justice in 2010.
He planned to have them read scripted statements on video that he hoped would help clear his name.
Holliday was serving a lengthy jail sentence for abusing young boys in Canberra.
The mixed verdicts, delivered on Tuesday afternoon, prevent Holliday from any chance of release on parole on the existing child abuse offences.
In a statement, family of one of Holliday's victims said they were relieved at the verdicts.
"However, we are concerned that over the trial it became apparent that he is not remorseful and is a serious danger to society and affected families in particular," the family said.
"We expect a very, very long custodial sentence that is not concurrent with his current sentence."
Holliday did not react as the verdicts were handed down by the jury, who began their deliberations on Monday afternoon.
His father was present in the ACT Supreme Court during the trial, and the victim's family extended their sympathy to him.
"We feel for his father, who really is also a victim."
Holliday is also understood to have criminal matters pending in NSW.
Before the jury began their deliberations, Crown prosecutor Shane Drumgold reminded them that a stupid plan can be just as illegal as an intelligent plan.
"This was a stupid plan," he said.
Holliday fought the charges, claiming it was the other inmate who approached him about the witnesses.
He claimed the other prisoner repeatedly questioned him about his case, insisting he could help him beat the charges.
Holliday claimed to have told a guard and his lawyer about his fellow inmate's behaviour, but said he eventually began feeding him "false information" to get him off his back.
Police raided his cell in July 2010, finding documents outlining the plan and scripts for the children to read.
He claimed the other inmate had originally written one of those documents, and that others were part of a work of fiction he was working on.
Holliday will be sentenced in December.
Justice John Burns remanded him in custody on the current charges, and noted he could now not be released until he'd been sentenced.
Holliday's barrister Ray Livingston said he'd be seeking an assessment of the offender before sentencing.
