Sean Deo Cusack charged sexual offences against 11-year-old girl in South Burnett

A man accused of travelling from the Sunshine Coast to the South Burnett to sexually abuse an 11-year-old girl has been granted bail.

Detectives from the Kingaroy Child Protection and Investigation Unit and Kingaroy Criminal Investigation Branch charged a 29-year-old man following alleged sexual offences against a child in the South Burnett this month.

A man has been granted bail after facing court in Caboolture on Tuesday charged with two child sex offences.

A man has been granted bail after facing court in Caboolture on Tuesday charged with two child sex offences.

Sean Deo Cusack, 29, appeared via video link at Caboolture Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

Mr Cusack was charged with rape and indecent dealing with a child under 12 following alleged sexual offences against a child in the South Burnett this month.

Police will allege Mr Cusack used social media to communicate with an 11-year-old girl before he travelled to a town in the South Burnett on December 16 and met with the girl before the alleged offences took place.

Detectives searched a Mount Coolum address on Monday, December 30, and arrested Mr Cusack.

He was charged with one count each of rape, indecent treatment of a child under 12, possessing dangerous drugs, and possessing a drug utensil.

On Tuesday in Caboolture Magistrates Court, police prosecutor Mel Pyke opposed bail, arguing the evidence in the case was strong.

She said he used social media to arrange the meet up.

“He was happy to travel a considerable distance to commit, so the risk lies in the likelihood of further offending,” Sgt Pyke said.

Solicitor Belinda Robinson described Mr Cusack as an “educated man” with a degree in economics and property from Sunshine Coast University.

She said he was employed full time in security within his family-owned business.

“He’s contesting the charges … in my submission the evidence is primarily circumstantial,” she said.

“There’s no evidence in the form of medical evidence, photographs, text messages or pretext phone calls or pretext text messages.”

The court heard Mr Cusack would reside with his mother in Mt Coolum.

Magistrate Raelene Ellis described the case as “very strong”.

“He said he drove all those hours at that time of night to buy cheaper vapes because they are $10 instead of $25.” Ms Ellis said.

“He would have spent more on petrol … by travelling that distance.

“In my view he places himself in the area of the criminal activity that is alleged to have occurred.”

She said other aspects of the prosecution’s bail objection affidavit made it a “very strong case”.

However, due to his lack of prior criminal history and the anticipated length of the court process, Ms Ellis granted him bail under strict conditions.

He must adhere to a curfew from 7.30pm to 7.30am, report daily to the Maroochydore watch-house, surrender his passport, and wear a tracking device.

Mr Cusack is set to reappear in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on January 13, 2025, to face two drug-related charges.

He will then appear in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on February 10, 2025, for a committal mention for the rape and indecent treatment charges.

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