Media release

Charges – Child abuse material – Darwin

Police

Detectives from the Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) arrested a 25-year-old man in Darwin’s northern suburbs yesterday for child abuse material.

Police allege that the man groomed a teenager from Western Australia over the Internet, and transferred money to the youth in return for self-produced child abuse material. The youth reported the incident to WA Police in November 2020 resulting in WA JACET referring the matter to the Northern Territory.

On 25 March 2021, Northern Territory and Australian Federal Police executed a section 3E Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Search Warrant on the man’s premises and located him allegedly accessing child abuse material on his computer. Police also located further material on a computer server and several other devices.

The man has been charged with the following Commonwealth offences:

  • 474.25C - Procure child u/16 x 1
  • 474.22 - Solicit child abuse material x 1
  • 474.22 - Make available child abuse material x 1
  • 474.22 - Promote child abuse material x 1
  • 474.22A - Possess or control child abuse material x 9

He was remanded in custody to appear in Darwin Local Court today.

Detective Sergeant Paul Lawson said, “This is another great example of a multi-jurisdictional investigation which has culminated in the arrest of the suspect and a number of serious charges being laid. The Northern Territory JACET will continue to work with national and international partners to keep the most vulnerable in our community safe.”

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report.