A Warnbro man is expected to appear in Perth Magistrates Court today (6 March, 2026) charged with soliciting, transmitting and possessing child abuse material, and animal cruelty.
The AFP charged the man, 22, yesterday (5 March, 2026) after investigating reports from the United States' National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user uploading child abuse material via an instant messaging application.
AFP investigators allegedly linked the man to the illegal online activity.
A search warrant was executed at a Warnbro home yesterday (5 March, 2026), where investigators reviewed a mobile phone and tablet and allegedly found child abuse material and videos allegedly showing the man engaging in animal cruelty. The devices were seized for further forensic examination.
The man was charged with:
- One count of possessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;
- One count of soliciting child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iv) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment;
- Three counts of transmitting child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(iii) of the Criminal Code (Cth). The maximum penalty for this offence is 15 years' imprisonment; and
- One count of animal cruelty, contrary to section 19(1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002 (WA). The maximum penalty for this offence is five years' imprisonment and a $50,000 fine.
AFP Acting Inspector Fleur Jennings said the AFP and its partners remained committed to protecting children from online predators.
"Every image, every video is of a real child being abused and subjected to an abhorrent situation that no child should ever have to face," a/Insp Jennings said.
"Children are not commodities to be used for the gratification of sexual predators.
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.
