Samuel Joe Frost enters single guilty plea to sexual abusing child, 21 more charges head to trial

A man alleged to have been the target of a four-year international manhunt has changed his plea to a single count of sexual abuse of a child - but denies 21 others.

An alleged child sex predator and creator of exploitation material arrested after a cold-case manhunt has changed his plea to one of the more-than 20 charges against him.

On Friday, Samuel Joe Frost, 47, appeared via video in the District Court before Judge Nicolas Alexandrides to plead guilty, after entering not guilty pleas in October last year.

Frost entered a guilty plea to one count of sexual abuse of a child between July 18, 2014 and June 19, 2015, while 10 counts relating to “contact offending” were withdrawn – reducing the total number of charges to 22.

“In relation to the production and dissemination of that (child exploitation) material, those charges are still proceeding to trial, that’s the agreed resolution,” the prosecutor said.

Following the single charge being read, Mr Frost replied, “I will plead guilty”.

Samuel Joe Frost was orginally arrested in a joint operation that involved Australian Federal Police, South Australian Police and Interpol. Picture: Facebook

Mr Frost, of O’Sullivan Beach, was arrested by SA’s elite Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team in March following a four-year international manhunt.

Initially charged with 11 offences, prosecutors last month tripled the size of the case following further investigation of allegedly hidden digital devices found by sniffer dogs.

Sean Nottle, for Frost, asked the charge with a recorded guilty plea follow the remaining contested matters.

They include state and Commonwealth counts of publishing, making available and possessing child exploitation material and are listed for trial next year

Mr Frost was remanded in custody to appear again later this month.