A Mid-North Coast man has appeared in Port Macquarie Local Court facing over 100 charges relating to alleged child sex offences and possessing child abuse material.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The 22-year-old man, who cannot be named, appeared before Magistrate Georgina Darcy on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
Police said the man was allegedly involved in a domestic online network of child sex offenders.
Bail was not applied for and was formally refused by Magistrate Darcy.
The man is charged with a total of 131 charges including, indecent assault, person under 16 years; having sexual intercourse with a person under 10 years; intentionally sexually touching a child; possession of child abuse material; possess child abuse material using carriage service; aggravated indecent assault - victim under authority; use child under 14 years to make child abuse material.
The man was charged following an Australian Federal Police-led investigation into a domestic online network of alleged child sex offenders.
The charges followed investigations under Operation Arkstone, which was launched in early 2020 after a tip-off from the United States' National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children to the AFP's Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE).
NSW Police media have confirmed the arrests are in not related to William Tyrrell.
Police allege that analysis of evidence seized during each arrest helped identify other suspected offenders.
AFP assistant commissioner for ACCCE and northern command Lesa Gale said police believe they have uncovered one of the biggest domestic child exploitation networks in recent times.
She said police will allege in court that some of the accused men had sexually abused children known to them and recorded videos and photographs to share with others online.
Other news from the courts:
Thank you for valuing local journalism with your subscription. While you're with us, you can also receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, sign up here.