Alleged Adelaide ‘pedo hunter’ Richard Paul Warner faces court, says case will challenge SA identity laws
AN alleged vigilante “paedophile hunter” has faced court over his actions — and his lawyer says the case will determine the validity of state laws about identifying sex offenders.
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- Alleged ‘pedo hunter’ arrested, charged over stings
- First sting: Middle-aged man confronted at train station
- Second sting: Younger man pleads ‘you’ve scared me, I’m shaking’
- Community rallies to raise money for his legal fees
AN alleged vigilante “paedophile hunter” has faced court over his actions — and his lawyer says the case will determine the validity of state laws about identifying sex offenders.
Richard Paul Warner, 42, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Wednesday charged with one aggravated count of assault.
Prosecutors have accused him of being the self-styled “pedo hunter” who made headlines in December when he led SA Police to two alleged sex offenders in two weeks.
Outside court, lawyer Michael Woods was asked if Warner was upset to be facing charges over his alleged crusade.
“I think the right-minded community might think so,” he replied.
“I think it’s a little disappointing when someone thinks they are doing the right thing, and doing the community a favour, can face criminal charges — and quite serious criminal charges.
“We understand the law, but it’s whether the law is correct — and that’s something we will sort out.”
The “pedo hunter” came to public attention after posting a series of videos, some of which depicted him wearing a Captain America-style mask to conceal his identity.
He said he did not “mete out my own type of punishment” and stressed he wanted police to conduct their own investigations.
The vigilante claimed his videos depicted citizen’s arrests of child sex offenders who had agreed to meet him after he posed, online, as a teenage boy.
One video depicts him grabbing a purported paedophile’s shirt with his fist.
The videos did not conceal the identities of the targeted men — under SA law, alleged sex offenders cannot be identified until they plead guilty or are committed for trial. (In the below video, Advertiser.com.au has concealed the identity of the man involved to comply with state law).
On Wednesday, the court heard Warner had only been charged with assault — but Mr Woods said he expected that to change.
“We’re before the court on a single charge of assault but I understand there’s some further Commonwealth charges likely to be laid,” he said.
Magistrate Maria Panagiotidis adjourned the case until next month to allow Commonwealth prosecutors time to finalise their part of the case.
Outside court, Mr Woods said neither he nor his client would comment specifically on the charges.
“Obviously the Commonwealth have not made their decision formally, yet, as to what my client is going to be charged with,” he said.
“I think (the charges) are in relation to so-called uploading of videos.”
He said Warner was grateful for the public support he had received.
“My client would like to thank (everyone) for the overwhelming community support he has had in respect of this matter,” he said.
“At this stage, I suppose we have to say we look forward to our day in court.”
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