A 19-year-old Tasmanian man has been charged with child abuse and bestiality offences after Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers executed a search warrant at a Devonport property today (Thursday, December 19, 2019).
The Tasmanian Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) arrested the man over a number of child abuse offences following a 10-month investigation.
It will be alleged the man has repeatedly obtained, accessed and transmitted child abuse and exploitation material, along with possessing products relating to bestiality.
The accused is set to face the Devonport Magistrates’ Court today in relation to the following offences:
- Possessing child abuse material accessed using a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Obtaining child abuse material for use through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.23 of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
- Using a carriage service to access material, being child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Using a carriage service to transmit / make available material, being child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth);
- Possessing of child exploitation material, contrary to section 130C of the Criminal Code 1924 (TAS);
- Possessing bestiality product, contrary to section 74 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1995 (TAS);
- Using a carriage service to cause child pornography to be transmitted to the person, contrary to section 474.19(1)(a)(ii);
The maximum penalty for these offences includes up to 21 years imprisonment.
AFP Tasmania Detective Sergeant Aaron Hardcastle said this arrest is another example of the Tasmanian JACET’s commitment to combating the sexual exploitation of children and ensuring offenders are brought to justice.
“The AFP will continue to work collaboratively with our partners here and overseas to target producers and distributors of child abuse material, who are contributing to an abhorrent industry harming the most vulnerable in our communities,” he said.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child exploitation are urged to call Crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.
