A South Australian man and woman have been charged for alleged possession of child abuse material and bestiality offences.
The man appeared in the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court yesterday (7 March, 2024) and the woman is expected to appear in the same court in May.
The South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET) arrested the pair this week (6 March, 2024) after investigating information provided to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
The ACCCE was notified by the New Albany Police Department, in Ohio in the United States, that it had allegedly identified a South Australian online user trading child abuse material via the social media platform, Kik Messenger.
SA JACET, comprising members from the AFP and South Australia Police, allegedly linked the woman, 24, and man, 40, to the illegal online offending.
SA JACET members executed a search warrant at a property in Port Lincoln earlier this week (6 March, 2024) where investigators located multiple electronic devices, including a mobile phone. The devices were seized for forensic examination.
Initial analysis of the electronic devices allegedly identified hundreds of child abuse images and videos, as well as alleged bestiality offences.
The man and woman were each charged with:
- One count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of bestiality, contrary to section 69 of the Criminal Law Consolidation Act 1935 (SA).
The maximum penalty for the Commonwealth offence is 15 years' imprisonment.
The Port Lincoln man was remanded in custody and is scheduled to reappear in court on 14 May, 2024.
The woman was bailed to appear in the Port Lincoln Magistrates Court on 29 May, 2024.
AFP Sergeant Joe Barry said the AFP worked closely with Australian and international partners to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.
"Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts," Sgt Barry said.
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 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.
