Lake Macquarie: Michael Hottes charged with alleged online grooming may face more offences
A Lake Macquarie man has been charged with alleged online grooming of a girl, 14. With Wyong Local Court hearing he may face further charges.
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A Lake Macquarie man has been charged following an investigation into the alleged online grooming and procuring of a child.
Michael Anthony Hottes faced Wyong Local Court on Wednesday after being arrested at a business in Mannering Park around 2.30pm on Tuesday and refused bail.
Last month, detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) began engaging online with a man from Morisset.
Police will allege in court that the 40-year-old man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and had conversations about sexually-explicit acts he wished the child to perform and sent explicit material.
Police will also allege the man arranged to meet the girl in person.
During the arrest on Tuesday by Strike Force Trawler detectives, the man’s phone was seized. He was taken to Wyong Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 years for sexual activity and was refused bail.
Mr Hottes appeared briefly in the dock at court on Wednesday where his Legal Aid-appointed solicitor Kevin Vierboom applied for bail.
The police prosecutor told the court bail was opposed because it was a strong prosecution case, Mr Hottes faced a term of imprisonment if convicted and Mr Hottes was a risk of failing to appear.
The prosecutor also said there was a risk, if on bail, Mr Hottes could commit further alleged offences.
Mr Vierboom said Mr Hottes had no other matters of this nature on his record and was supported in court by his brother and uncle in the public gallery.
Mr Vierboom said Mr Hottes was “entitled to the presumption of innocence” and could live with his brother at Blue Haven.
However Magistrate Caleb Franklin asked who also lived at that address and Mr Hottes’ brother replied his partner and their two children.
Mr Franklin instructed Mr Vierboom to get proper instructions from his client.
“He’s been charged with grooming a 14 year old and you want him to live (there),” he said.
The matter was briefly adjourned over the lunch break before Mr Vierboom withdrew the release application and told the court Mr Hottes was not required back in the dock.
The matter was adjourned to Toronto Local Court on September 1.
Charge sheets tendered in court allege Mr Hottes used a carriage service to transmit communications to procure sexual activity between May 16 and June 29.