Man to face court on 19 child abuse charges, including incest

The man is facing court on 19 child abuse charges. Photo: File.

UPDATED 12:15 pm: A man accused of sexually abusing a girl when she was just one and two years old did not apply for bail when he appeared in court on Thursday (5 May).

His 19 charges include five counts of sexual intercourse with the girl, six counts of using her for the production of child exploitation material and one count of incest.

Prosecutor Sam Bargwanna told the ACT Magistrate Court the charges were based on a “small number” of digital images that were being inspected, but there were still more to be analysed.

Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker read the man his charges and remanded him in custody to next appear in court in June.
He legally cannot be identified and has not entered pleas.

10:10 am: A 35-year-old man will face ACT Magistrates Court today (5 May) after being arrested on 19 child abuse charges, including one count of incest.

In February 2022, members of the ACT Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) received information from the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation regarding the alleged peer-to-peer sharing of child abuse material.

A month of investigation by ACT JACET officers followed, with support from the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Team, AFP Victim Identification Team, the AFP Digital Forensics Team and a technology detection dog.

Police then executed a search warrant at a north Canberra home, where two personal computers and one external hard drive were seized, which were believed to contain thousands of videos and still images.

Further investigations into the seized material has revealed more images which has led to additional charges being laid, including:

• six counts of an act of indecency with a child under 10;
• six counts of using a child to produce child exploitation material;
• five counts of sexual intercourse with a child under 10;
• one count of possessing child exploitation material;
• one count of incest with a child under 10.

Police will oppose bail in court today.

Anyone with information regarding the accessing or creation of child abuse material is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Information can be provided anonymously.