NT Man Charged With Child Abuse Material Solicitation

A Northern Territory man appeared before the Alice Springs Local Court yesterday (22 October, 2025), accused of soliciting child abuse material via a messaging platform from users overseas.

Investigations into the Petermann man, 36, began after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received three reports from the United States National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).

The reports concerned online communication from an account in Australia allegedly involved in sharing child abuse material via a messaging app.

Investigations by the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET) determined the account was allegedly operated by the NT man.

Members of NT JACET executed a search warrant at a Petermann residence, seized a mobile phone and arrested the man on 21 October, 2025.

Forensic examination of the phone allegedly located child abuse material files and chats with other users on the messaging app.

The man was charged with:

  • One count of use a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code (Cth) and;
  • One count of possess or control child abuse material for use through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth).

Both offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years' imprisonment.

He is next expected to appear in court on 29 October, 2025.

AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the AFP and its law enforcement partners remained dedicated to protecting children and targeting offenders seeking to harm them, no matter where they were in the world.

"We work side by side with other law enforcement agencies to keep children safe from harm and put alleged offenders before the court," Supt Davis said.

"Our message is crystal clear - if you are involved in these awful crimes against children, you should expect a knock on the door."

NT Police Detective Sergeant Mark Cronin said disgusting crimes like child abuse did not belong in any state or territory.

"Child exploitation has no place in our community, and we will continue to pursue those responsible," Det Sgt Cronin said.

"Our investigators, together with our federal partners, will stop at nothing to identify and bring to justice anyone who seeks to harm or exploit children."

The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.

The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.

If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

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