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06 August 2021, 4:03pm
Media Release

Operation Arkstone offender faces 59 additional charges

A NSW man in court today (Friday, 6 August 2021) is facing an additional 59 child abuse-related offences following investigations by the Australian Federal Police (AFP). The man has now been charged with a total of 120 offences.

The 29-year-old was arrested at his then-Blacktown home in February 2021 and charged with 12 offences as part of a nationwide investigation, codenamed Operation Arkstone.

Operation Arkstone began following a report to the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) from the US National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user allegedly distributing and receiving child abuse material online.

Further investigations by the AFP’s Eastern Command child protection investigators uncovered an online network of alleged child sex offenders, and arrests around the country to remove any potential child victims from harm.

The 59 new charges laid against the man come following forensic examination and analysis of two electronic devices seized during the search warrant at his Blacktown home. The man is now facing 120 offences in total.

The 59 additional charges laid include:

  • One count of sexual intercourse with child under the age of 10 years contrary to section 66A(1) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • One count of sexually touching a child who is of or above the age of 10 years and under the age of 16 years, contrary to section 66DB(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • One count of inciting a child who is of or above the age of 10 years and under the age of 16 years to sexually touch the person, contrary to section 66DB(b) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • One count of carrying out a sexual act with or towards a child who is under the age of 16 years for the purposes of the production of child abuse material, contrary to section 66DF(a) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • Three counts of inciting a child who is under the age of 16 years to carry out a sexual act with or towards the person, for the purposes of the production of child abuse material, contrary to section 66DF(b) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • One count of possess or control child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service contrary to section 474.22A of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
  • Two counts of attempt to commit bestiality, contrary to section 80 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • Three counts of commit an act of indecency on a person under 16 years of age for child abuse material, contrary to section 61O(2A) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • Three counts of incite a person under 16 years of age to commit an act of indecency for child abuse material, contrary to section 61O(2A) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW);
  • Six counts of Using a carriage service to solicit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iv) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
  • 32 counts of using a carriage service to transmit, make available, publish, distribute, advertise or promote child abuse material contrary to section 474.22(1)(a)(iii) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth);
  • Two counts of using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age, contrary to section 474.27A(1) of the Criminal Code 1995 (Cth); and
  • Three counts of produce child abuse material, contrary to section 91G(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

The man was scheduled to appear before Gosford Local Court today.

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 or report online.

If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at ThinkUKnow, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.

Note to media:

Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL NOT 'CHILD PORNOGRAPHY'

The correct legal term is Child Abuse 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.

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