Russell Smerdon charged with indecent treatment of boy at Brisbane private school

An educator has been accused of indecently dealing with a boy under the age of 17 at a private school in Brisbane.

Russell James Smerdon, 66, leaves the Brisbane Magistrates Court on January 30, 2023.

A Brisbane private school is the place where police allege a boy was repeatedly assaulted by an educator several decades ago.

Russell James Smerdon, 66, appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court Monday, February 27 charged with two counts of indecent treatment of a boy under the age of 17.

According to court documents, the Clayfield man is currently employed as an “educational advisor”.

Court documents stated both alleged incidents involved the same boy and occurred at the same school, which cannot be named for legal reasons.

Smerdon, who is originally from Gympie, was charged over the alleged matters on October 20 last year and appeared in the Magistrates Court for the first time on November 9.

He was granted bail on his own undertaking the same day he was charged, promising not to contact or attempt to contact his alleged victim.

His case was mentioned briefly in court on January 30 as the prosecution explained it was waiting for one man to provide a statement.

The Magistrates Court heard the statement was still outstanding on February 27, but Smerdon had by then received a partial brief of evidence.

The matter was adjourned to March 27 and the 66-year-old’s bail was enlarged.

Asked about the alleged incidents, a spokesman said the school was “unable to comment on any matters that are before the courts”.