Paul Hunt: Tinonee teacher facing child abuse material charges at Taree court
A Mid-North Coast teacher has been charged with possessing and sending child abuse material, as a magistrate said the man’s access to young people would impact his application for bail.
Mid-North Coast
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A teacher and radio host has appeared in Taree court in a bid to be released on bail after he was charged with possessing and sending child abuse material over the weekend.
Paul Arthur Hunt was arrested and remanded in custody after police officers executed a search warrant at his Tinonee home on Saturday evening following a tip off earlier in the week.
Tinonee is a small village near Taree.
During the search police allegedly seized several items, including mobile phones, laptops and electronic storage devices, to undergo forensic examination.
The 57-year-old teacher and community radio station host was charged with possess child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material, and possess prohibited drug.
Police will allege Hunt was accessing and sending child abuse material through a mobile phone app.
Hunt sat quietly in the dock in a green check shirt when his matter came before Magistrate Hawkins at Taree Local Court on Monday, November 21.
Police prosecutor Ms Harmer told the court his occupation provides “access to young people” and that he should not be granted bail.
The court heard the two charges of possess and disseminate child abuse material relate to alleged behaviour over a two-month period in October and November of this year.
Ultimately Magistrate Hawkins refused bail and the matter adjourned to December 6.
Hunt has not formally entered a plea.
TIP OFF LEADS TO ALLEGED ABUSE MATERIAL STASH IN STATE’S NORTH
A 57-year-old man has been charged over allegedly possessing and disseminating child abuse material in the state’s north.
Earlier this week, officers from Manning Great Lakes Police District started an investigation, following reports a man was in possession of child abuse material.
Following further inquiries, investigators executed a search warrant at a home in Tinonee, a small village near Taree, about 9.40pm on Saturday.
Police seized several items, including mobile phones, laptops and electronic storage devices, to undergo forensic examination.
The 57-year-old was arrested at the property and taken to Taree Police Station, where he was charged with possess child abuse material, disseminate child abuse material, and possess prohibited drug.
Police will allege in court the man was accessing and sending child abuse material through a mobile phone app.
The man was refused bail and appeared at Port Macquarie Local Court on Sunday, November 20 where he was refused bail to appear before Taree Local Court on Monday November 21.
Anyone with concerns about suspected child abuse or exploitation should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
Information you provide will be treated in the strictest of confidence. People should not report crime information via our Facebook and Twitter pages.
Anyone with information about the dissemination of child abuse material online is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.
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