Steven Makins pleaded not guilty to five counts of procuring a child for sexual activity
A volunteer firefighter will stand trial on multiple charges after he allegedly groomed a 13-year-old girl online over several years.
North & North East
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A father will stand trial accused of grooming a 13-year-old girl online over several years who was actually an undercover police officer.
Steven Makins, 33, pleaded not guilty in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday to five counts of procuring a child for sexual activity.
Police allege Mr Makins communicated with an undercover police officer posing as a 13 and 14-year-old girl on multiple occasions.
If found guilty, the maximum penalty for a basic offence of procuring a child for sexual activity – even if the victim is a fictitious person represented as a real person – is 10 years jail.
Court documents allege Mr Makins made a communication with the intention of procuring a child to engage in, or submit to sexual activity on September 14, 2019 at Andrew Farms.
He allegedly committed the same offence between September 3 and September 23, 2019, on July 4, 2020, and between May 11 and June 23, 2022.
During a bail variation last month, Magistrate Roderick Jensen granted a condition so Mr Makins could be alone with three children residing on and off at his address.
The court heard two were Mr Makin’s biological children and one was his partner’s child – all of which were boys.
“His partner is fully versed in these matters and if she has concerns she would raise that with the Department of Correctional Services,” counsel, for Mr Makins, said.
Mr Makins is currently banned from engaging in any child related work or communicating or being alone with children, besides the three living at the address with him.
Mr Makins also cannot use the internet for any purpose except banking, employment and legal services.
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday, Magistrate Brian Nitschke committed Mr Makins to the District Court for arraignment in May.
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