Man, 21, charged by AFP for allegedly using Twitter to watch CEM

A Morayfield man, 21, could spend time behind bars after the Australian Federal Police found he was allegedly using Twitter to watch and share child exploitation material.

A young man from the Moreton Bay region could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of his alleged crimes, after the Australian Federal Police accused him of using Twitter to watch and share child exploitation material.

Shane Patrick Lee, 21, will faced court on Wednesday following the months-long investigation, led by the AFP’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCE).

The investigation began earlier this year, after a tip off from the USA’s National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children alerted Australian authorities of the alleged offending.

In April 2021, the AFP executed a search warrant at the man’s Morayfield home and seized one smartphone and a laptop.

The man was issued a Notice to Appear to face Caboolture Magistrates’ Court today, charged under several sections of the 1995 Criminal Code Act.

He’s been charged with one count of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, one count of using a carriage service to access child abuse material, and one count of using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material.

The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years’ imprisonment.

Shane Patrick Lee, 21, will face court today following the months-long investigation, led by the AFP’s Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation.

Detective Superintendent Paula Hudson said the charges reflect the AFP’s pledge to protecting children and identifying and prosecuting those seeking to harm and exploit them.

“Individuals who possess, access and transmit child abuse material are part of the problem. They create the market for child abuse material online which causes further harm to children,” Detective Superintendent Hudson said.

Det Supt Hudson said the AFP will continue to work tirelessly to hunt down offenders to ensure those seeking to access children for sexual offences online are prosecuted.

Lee fronted Caboolture Magistrates’ Court, where his matter was adjourned to August 25.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.

If you or someone you know are impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation there are support services available.

Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protection children online can be found at the AFP led ThinkUKnow – a program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.