This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and Western Australia Police Force
A West Australian man is expected to face Perth Magistrate's Court today (13 September 2022) after he was arrested and charged last night with 36 offences relating to producing, accessing and transmitting child abuse and exploitation material and breach of bail.
The man, 46, was charged with the additional offences after the WA Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) reviewed electronic devices seized from him when he was initially charged in December (2021).
The man, from the southern suburb of Wellard, also allegedly breached conditions of his bail, including by failing to attend a scheduled court appearance.
Police had executed a search warrant at the man's home on 30 November 2021 after allegedly identifying him during an investigation into a report from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about child abuse material being transmitted through a messaging platform.
WA JACET investigators allegedly found images and videos of young boys and girls being sexually abused on the man's electronic devices and charged him with two offences relating to possessing and transmitting child abuse material. Two mobile phones and a computer were seized for further examination.
A review of the devices allegedly uncovered messages on an encrypted application from between October and December (2021). These allegedly included sexually explicit conversations with teenage girls, including comments by the man claiming to have sexually assaulted another young girl.
He also allegedly sent videos of children being sexually abused and nude images of himself to other users.
Police will allege the production of child abuse material relates to a sexually explicit online conversation.
AFP Detective Inspector Andrea Coleman said children were not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.
"People who access and share these images and videos create the demand for real children, somewhere in the world, to be sexually abused, exploited and traumatised," Det-Insp. Coleman said.
"The AFP works tirelessly with the WA Police Force, domestic and international partners to keep children safe and prosecute anyone who is preying on them."
WA JACET comprises officers from AFP and WA Police Force.
The man was charged last night with:
- 24 counts of transmitted child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iii) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
- Four counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person believed to be aged under 16, contrary to subsection 474.27A(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of produced child abuse material, with the intention that the material be used by himself and another person to commit an offence against section 474.22 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), contrary to section 474.23 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Two counts of solicited child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iv) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of used a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Three counts of distributing child exploitation material, contrary to section 219 of the Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913 (WA);
- One count of breach of bail, contrary to section 51 of the Bail Act 1982 (WA).
In December he was charged with:
- One count of possessed child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- One count of transmitted child abuse material using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iii) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for the Commonwealth offences ranges from 10 years' imprisonment for transmitting indecent communication to a person under 16, to 15 years' imprisonment for each of the other Commonwealth offences.
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 and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.accce.gov.au/report. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
Research conducted by the ACCCE in 2020 revealed only about half of parents talked to their children about online safety.
An award-winning podcast launched last year by the ACCCE 'Closing The Net' is working to change that, showcasing that knowledge is power and that our only chance to help prevent this issue is if we bring a 'whole-of-community' response.
The podcast series offers valuable tips and advice on how to keep kids safe online. Listen to the Closing The Net podcast on your favourite streaming platform.
If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available at www.accce.gov.au/support.
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.
