Michael John Jones: Clermont man charged with arranging sex with child through online chats with cop

A Clermont man was on a suspended jail sentence when he allegedly arranged to have sex with a child through online chats with an undercover cop posing as her mother.

Police will allege a Clermont man arranged to meet a 12-year-old girl for sex, after chatting with an undercover police officer posing as the girl’s mother.

Michael John Jones appeared in Emerald Magistrates Court on November 15 charged with using the internet to procure a child under 16, possessing child exploitation material and failing to report.
The 31-year-old, who appeared via videolink, asked the court to grant him bail despite the court hearing he was on a suspended sentence for “strikingly similar offending”.

The court was told Mr Jones was alleged to have engaged in online conversation about sexual acts with children with a person he believed to be the mother of a 12-year-old girl, who was actually an undercover officer working within Operation Argos.

It will be alleged Mr Jones made plans to travel to Brisbane to meet and engage in sex acts with the child.

Police raided his home on November 11 and 12, seizing a mobile phone and a device that allegedly contained child exploitation material.

Police prosecutor Rachel Todd described the alleged offending as “particularly concerning” and said it demonstrated a “contempt or disdain” for the legal system.

Duty lawyer Erin Beer submitted for her client to be bailed, with police objecting and noting it was proposed Mr Jones be released to reside near a public park frequented by children.

“My understanding is that the defendant resides with his father, who prosecutions hasn’t been able to assist in adequate supervision,” Sergeant Todd said.

“And unfortunately it’s come to our attention that this particular arrest has been detailed in the media, which could cause some issues in respect to the safety and wellbeing of the defendant himself.

Sergeant Todd said bail was also objected to due to the “strong” case against Mr Jones.

“The email that the defendant is said to have utilised is performative by him as a new email address, and that was said to have been used in communication in the (alleged) offending,” she said.

“The mobile phone, the one that police seized, was sighted in the defendant’s hands as (officers) approached him.

“Along with the other phone, which is said to have been secreted under his mattress in his bedroom.”

Ms Beer submitted that her client was employed full-time as a machine operator in Mackay and had strong ties in the community.

She noted Mr Jones accepted he had relevant criminal history and was engaging in fortnightly psychologist appointments.

She asked the court to consider that no physical contact was alleged.

Magistrate Rosemary Gilbert noted that Jones was currently subject to orders made earlier this year in Rockhampton District Court, including a suspended sentence for offences she described as being “strikingly similar” to those before the court. 

Ms Gilbert refused bail and remanded Mr Jones in custody.

“In my view you are an unacceptable risk of committing further offences and endangering members of the public,” she said.

“And the conditions which are proposed by Ms Beer, are in my view, not sufficient reduce that risk to an acceptable level."

The matters was adjourned to Clermont Magistrates Court on December, with the court hearing Mr Jones was making an application for Legal Aid.