Franzric Lara: AFP arrest Baulkham Hills man for online child exploitation
A man from Sydney’s northwest who allegedly sexually exploiting a young New Zealand girl online has fronted court after an international tip-off led to his arrest.
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Baulkham Hills man Franzric Lara — who is accused of sexually exploiting a New Zealand girl online — has fronted court after an international tip-off led the Australian Federal Police to arrest him.
The 23-year-old allegedly posed as a child to send sexually explicit images to a young girl, who he had allegedly coerced into sending photos to him, between May and July last year.
An AFP NSW Child Protection Operations team began an investigation after New Zealand Police reported suspicious that Lara allegedly used a social media account to send messages.
AFP searched his home on June 3 when they seized a computer and phone which allegedly contained child abuse material, including records of sexualised online conversations with young girls.
Lara was charged with using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 years of age.
He faces a maximum seven years’ imprisonment if convicted.
Lara appeared briefly with a family member at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday.
His bail was continued and the matter was adjourned to October 2.