A Coodanup man, previously charged with possessing child abuse material, will face the Perth Magistrates Court today (23 August, 2024) charged with additional child abuse related offences.
The Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) charged the man, 40, with another five offences yesterday (22 August, 2024) after a forensic review of his seized devices allegedly uncovered more than 18,000 photos and videos depicting the exploitation and abuse of children.
Investigators from WA JACET, which comprises AFP and Western Australia Police Force, initially charged the man in March 2024 after executing a search warrant at his former Gosnells home.
During the search, investigators located several electronic devices, including a computer hard drive and mobile phone, which allegedly contained child abuse material. The electronic devices were seized for further forensic examination.
The man was initially charged with three counts of possessing child abuse material.
He first appeared in the Perth Magistrates Court on 11 April, 2024 and was released on bail. His devices were reviewed and he was arrested to appear in court on 23 August, 2024.
The detailed review of the electronic devices allegedly revealed the large amount of child abuse material as well as evidence he shared some of the files.
The man was charged yesterday (22 August) with the following additional offences:
- Two counts 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);
- Two counts of accessing child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth); and
- One count of an aggravated offence - committed an offence against section 474.22(1) (Access CAM) on three or more separate occasions and the commission of each offence involved two or more people, contrary to section 474.24A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth).
The maximum penalty for each of the offences is 15 years' imprisonment.
AFP Detective Sergeant Karen Addiscott said the AFP worked closely with local and international law enforcement partners to protect children from harm.
"Every time child abuse material is viewed, it perpetuates the cycle of abuse against these children," D/Sgt Addiscott said.
"Our message to online offenders has not changed - if you possess child abuse material, you will be found, arrested and prosecuted."
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.
