A Cowes man faced La Trobe Valley Magistrates Court last week (Thursday 23 February 2023) charged with possessing child abuse material and breach of bail.
The man, 43, was charged on Wednesday (22 February) with the offences after the Victorian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (VIC JACET) - comprising of AFP and Victoria Police officers - allegedly located child abuse material on his phone, which also allegedly breached conditions of his bail.
VIC JACET investigators first charged the man in May 2021 as a result of an investigation that began with a referral from US Homeland Security Investigations in relation to child abuse material on a social media platform.
When officers executed a search warrant at his home on 27 May 2021, they allegedly found child abuse material on his phone.
He was charged in May 2021 with possessing, transmitting and causing child abuse material to be transmitted using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth). These offences carry a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment.
The man was further charged on Wednesday 22 February 2023 with:
- Possessing child abuse material obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22 (1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
- Committing indictable offence whilst on bail, contrary to Section 30B of the Bail Act 1977
- Two counts of contravening a condition of his bail, contrary to section 30A(1) of the Bail Act 1977.
Detective Acting Superintendent Jonelle Lancashire said the additional charges demonstrated the commitment of the VIC JACET to ensure anyone involved in the harm of children was brought to justice.
"Anyone who possesses this kind of material has no regard for the suffering of victims of child abuse, which is why the AFP will never stop in our efforts to protect children," D/A/Supt Lancashire said.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted."
The man is expected to next face the Melbourne Magistrates Court on 5 May 2023.
The maximum penalty for the offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation 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 at www.accce.gov.au/report. 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 at www.accce.gov.au/support.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety. Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at www.thinkuknow.org.au, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
