This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and South Australia Police
A 42-year-old man who allegedly secretly filmed young children as they played near their homes and also accessed child abuse videos online is due to face Elizabeth Magistrates Court today (Friday, 14 August 2020).
South Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (SA JACET) investigators charged the man with three offences after executing a search warrant at his home in SA’s Barossa Valley region yesterday (Thursday, 13 August).
An investigation was launched after the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report about a SA resident suspected of accessing child abuse material online.
SA JACET allegedly identified the 42-year-old as the person who obtained the abhorrent content.
Police will allege they found child abuse material stored on electronic devices at the man’s home.
They also allegedly found video footage of children, which included close-up shots up their skirts or shorts.
Police will allege the 42-year-old spied on the children and covertly filmed those videos.
An examination of seized devices is ongoing.
The man has been charged with:
- one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code (Cth);
one count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
- one count of aggravated indecent filming, contrary to section 26D of the Summary Offences Act 1953 (SA).
The man faces a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment if convicted.
AFP Central Command Acting Commander Gail McClure said children should be able to play safely outdoors without someone lurking in the shadows to hurt them or steal their innocence.
“The growing community appetite for child exploitation material is horrifying; children are being harmed and exploited to satisfy the depraved sexual impulses of some adults,” A/Commander McClure said.
“AFP and South Australia Police continue to work tirelessly to keep children safe and unmask anyone who tries to harm or exploit them.”
The ACCCE is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combatting organised child abuse.
The Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
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.
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