A Katherine man has been sentenced to three years and six months' imprisonment for possessing child abuse material and drug-related offences.
The man, 44, was sentenced yesterday (4 December, 2025) in the Katherine Local Court, and must serve a non-parole period of one year and nine months, which was backdated to 20 June, 2024.
The Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET), comprising officers from the AFP and Northern Territory Police, charged the man in June, 2024, after investigating reports from the United States' National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about a user possessing child abuse material stored in his online accounts.
Police charged the man after executing a search warrant at a property in Katherine on 20 June, 2024, where they located electronic devices, including an SD card. Investigators also located a quantity of cannabis and drug paraphernalia.
Further NT JACET investigations identified hundreds of files of child abuse material stored on the man's electronic devices.
The man pleaded guilty on 21 November, 2025, to:
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 125B (1) (a) of the Criminal Code Act 1983 (NT);
- One count of possessing schedule 2 less than trafficable quantity, contrary to section 7D (1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT); and
- One count of possessing thing to administer dangerous drug, contrary to section 12(1) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT).
AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said demand for child abuse material fuelled the horrific exploitation and abuse of children.
"Our dedicated investigators are committed to protecting children and will track alleged offenders wherever they may be and bring them before the courts," Supt Davis said.
"The AFP's partnerships with law enforcement agencies locally, nationally and internationally are vital to disrupt insidious child abuse offending."
NT Police Detective Sergeant Mark Cronin said police would ensure offenders are held accountable.
"These offences are despicable and have no place in our community," Det-Sgt Cronin said.
"This serves as a reminder to anyone participating in these horrendous acts, we will find you and you will be held accountable."
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.
