Tyler Withers charged with possessing child abuse material after Clarence Valley arrest
A 21-year-old man has faced court after the Australian Federal Police raided his home in northern NSW and charged him with possessing child abuse material. Here’s the latest.
Grafton
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Acting on a tip-off, the Australian Federal Police has raided a northern NSW home and arrested a 21-year-old man as part of an investigation into online child abuse material.
Tyler Withers faced Grafton Local Court on Tuesday, charged with two counts of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service.
Withers is yet to enter pleas to the charges, which carry a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
In a statement, the federal police said investigators had identified Withers during an investigation into a report regarding child abuse material being available for purchase online.
During a search warrant at his Clarence Valley home on December 18 last year, investigators allegedly found child abuse material on electronic devices.
The devices were seized for further forensic examination and Withers was granted police bail.
He is next due in court on March 4.
Australian Federal Police Detective Acting Inspector Emmanuel Tsardoulias said the arrest was another reminder of the prevalence of online child abuse.
“Our investigators will continue to work tirelessly in 2025 alongside our partners to protect children, wherever they live,” he said.
“Law enforcement is committed to ensuring anyone who tries to harm children or seeks to profit from this heinous crime is identified and brought before the courts.”Police urge anybody with information that could help law enforcement to contact the Australian Federal Police-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via www.accce.gov.au/report.
“If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000,” the force said in its statement.
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