Ipswich removalist facing up to 15 years for child abuse material offences
An Ipswich removalist is facing up to 15 years in prison for a range of child abuse material offences he was charged with after a tip-off from a US agency.
Police & Courts
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An Ipswich removalist has fronted court after he was charged with a range of child abuse material offences following a tip-off from an overseas agency.
Cal William Meehan, 35, faced Brisbane Magistrates Court on Thursday morning after the US-based National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted the Australian Federal Police to the man’s alleged online activities.
The Brisbane’s Anti Child Exploitation Team allegedly found a cache of child abuse material on five USBs, two laptops and an iPad when they raided Meehan’s Gailes property.
Three mobile phones and two external hard drives were also seized for forensic analysis.
Meehan was initially charged with six counts of possessing child exploitation material and three other unrelated offences, which involved him allegedly possessing two butterfly knives and driving his Nissan Navara unregistered.
At court this morning police also charged Meehan with an additional three counts of possessing child exploitation material.
The removalist, who used to work as a pool cleaner, remains on bail and will next appear before Ipswich Magistrates Court on May 20.
As part of his bail conditions he is not allowed to have contact with children, unless in the presence of another adult and will have his internet use restricted.
While on bail Meehan will not be allowed to leave Queensland and must report twice a week to police.
AFP Detective Superintendent Child Protection Operations Paula Hudson said the AFP’s international partnerships were vital to stopping the spread of child abuse material online.
“It takes a network to break a network and this arrest is an example of our strong relationships with international law enforcement,” Detective Superintendent Hudson said.
“Our message to offenders accessing, transmitting and exchanging child abuse material is that the AFP will not stop investigating those responsible for spreading this abhorrent material and bringing them before the court.”
If found guilty, Meehan could face a maximum of 15 years’ imprisonment.
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