Two Mid-North Coast men facing hundreds of charges in relation to an alleged domestic online network of child sex offenders across Australia have reappeared in court.
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Timothy Luke Doyle and Steven Garrad appeared via video link before Magistrate Darcy in Port Macquarie Local Court on September 10.
Doyle and Garrad have made no application for bail. Bail was formally refused and the pair will reappear for committal on November 18.
Doyle's charges relate to alleged incidents from 2014 through to 2020 at Kendall, Doonside, Bidwill, Old Bar, Taree, Parkes and Wingham.
He is facing more than 300 charges which include commit act of indecency with person under 16 years; sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years; indecent assault person under 16 years of age; intentionally sexually touch child under 10 years; intentionally sexually touch child between 10-16 years; indecent assault person under 16 years of age; incite indecent act on person less than 16 years - filmed; have sexual intercourse with person between the ages of 10-14 years; incite person under 16 years to commit act of indecency; aggravated sex assault - victim under the age of 16 years; possess/control child abuse material-use carriage service; use child under 14 years to make child abuse material; use carriage service transmit/publish/promote child abuse; use carriage service to solicit child abuse material; use carriage service to send indecent material to person less than 16 years; use carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex; possess child abuse material; procure child under 14 years to produce child abuse material; aggravated indecent assault - victim under authority; attempt sexual intercourse with person under 10 years; conceal child abuse offence (5yrs or more max); aggravated - sexual intercourse child between 10-14 years; sexual intercourse without consent; indecent assault person under 16 years of age; common assault; and stalk/intimidate intend fear physical etc harm (personal).
The charges against Garrad relate to alleged incidents between 2016 and 2020 at Doonside, Bidwill, Old Bar and Kendall.
Garrad is facing more than 100 charges including sexual intercourse with a child under 10 years; 18 counts of using a child under 14 years to make child abuse material; and 14 counts of indecent assault on a person aged under 16 years of age; sexual intercourse with a person over 10 years; intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years; using a carriage service to publish/transmit/promote child abuse; indecent assault on a person under 16 years; using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material; intentionally sexually touching a child over 10 years and under 16 years; aggravated indecent assault, victim under authority; possess child abuse material using carriage service; using a carriage service to send indecent material to another person; using a carriage service to groom under 16 years for sex and possess child abuse material.
The mission to uncover and bust the alleged child abuse ring was given the title Operation Arkstone.
Doyle and Garrad were charged following an Australian Federal Police-led investigation.
Numerous other men, across three states, have also been charged as part of Operation Arkstone.
The operation 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).