In July 2021, information was provided to the Western Australia Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (WA JACET) which resulted in search warrants being executed at the home and work addresses of a 47-year-old man. During the searches, police located and seized multiple computer and storage devices belonging to the man and Operation Chaco was established.
A digital forensic examination of seized material identified approximately 3.8 million videos and images which were considered child exploitation material and captured contact offending allegedly committed by the accused.
During the comprehensive investigation of Operation Chaco, specialist detectives identified 24 victims (both boys and girls) who had been subject to sexual abuse, with these offences allegedly to have occurred between 2015 and 2021.
The 47-year-old man from the Perth metropolitan region, is next due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on 22 April 2022 on the charges of:-
• 240 counts of Indecent Dealing with a Child under 13 years;
• 98 counts of Indecently Record a Child under 13 years;
• 44 counts of Sexually Penetration of a Child under 13 years;
• 26 counts of Possession of Child Exploitation Material; and
• Five counts of Producing Child Exploitation Material.
The Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Teams across the country are Australia’s frontline in tackling, disrupting and prosecuting this insidious industry that causes significant harm to the most vulnerable in our community – our children.
Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child exploitation material are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online to the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the Report Abuse button at www.accce.gov.au/report.
Note:
Use of term ‘CHILD EXPLOITATION MATERIAL’ NOT ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
The correct legal term is Child Exploitation Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase “child pornography” is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
• indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
• conjures images of children posing in ‘provocative’ positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
