Maclean man James Apps charged with soliciting child abuse
A Northern Rivers man charged with planning to sexually abuse a child outside of Australia was dramatically arrested at Sydney Airport by federal police after returning from an overseas trip.
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Federal police swooped on a Northern Rivers man accused of organising to sexually abuse a child outside of Australia at Sydney Airport as he returned from a trip to the Philippines, court documents state.
Maclean man James Apps, 39, was arrested at Sydney Airport in June 2023, following his arrival on an international flight.
“A review of the man’s mobile phone by AFP officers allegedly identified messages sent on an encrypted application indicating a desire to commit child abuse offences,” the Australian Federal Police said in a statement.
“It is alleged that child abuse material was also located on the device.”
Apps was subsequently charged with five offences, including possessing child abuse material using a carriage service, using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, importing prohibited tier two goods and using a carriage service to access child abuse material.
He was also charged with doing an act intending to prepare for or plan an offence against Division 272 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code – which involves sexual intercourse with a child under 16 outside Australia.
Documents tendered to Downing Centre Local Court indicate police will allege Apps is accused of possessing and transmitting the child abuse material on June 9 last year, and of importing the tier two goods – specifically child abuse material – that day.
The documents further state police will allege Apps was using a carriage service to access child abuse material between June 23, 2020 and June 9, 2023.
He is accused of planning for or preparing the alleged child abuse outside of Australian on May 25 last year.
The maximum potential penalty for these offences upon conviction is 15 years’ imprisonment.
Apps has been remanded in custody and will next appear at Downing Centre Local Court on January 31.
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