Alexander Brown: Man accused of using social media to upload child abuse material

A 30-year-old man has been refused bail at Kempsey Local Court after being charged for allegedly using a social media account to upload child abuse material.

A 30-year-old Macksville man could face 15 years jail if convicted of allegedly uploading child abuse material to a social media account called Kik and using a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material.

Alexander Ronald Brown appeared in Kempsey Local Court on Tuesday after being arrested at his West St home, Macksville, where police allege he engaged in the production and distribution of child abuse material online.

He did not apply for, and was formally refused bail, at Kempsey Local Court where he is next due to appear on November 17.

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Officers allege the man procured a child under 14 years of age for the production of child abuse material on three separate occasions in February and November 2018.

The investigation began into his alleged activities in February 2021 after the AFP-led Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) received a report from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) regarding a Kik social media user uploading child abuse material (CAM).

Investigators from AFP Eastern Command Child Protection Operations allegedly linked the 30-year-old Macksville man to the Kik account.

A search warrant was executed at the man‘s home, and he was arrested and charged with four counts of possessing child abuse material accessed or obtained using a carriage service, and three counts of using a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material.

Investigators seized two laptops, a mobile phone, a hard disk drive and a memory card. The digital devices will now be subject to further forensic examination.

The maximum penalty for seven offences is 15 years‘ imprisonment.

The maximum penalty for these offences is 15 years‘ imprisonment.. Vision AFP

Them man was formally refused bail at Kempsey Local Court. Vision AFP

AFP Detective Sergeant Joel Wheeler said this arrest was another reminder of the commitment undertaken by the AFP to protect children and identify and prosecute anyone who seeks to exploit and harm them.

“Anyone who produces or shares child abuse material is part of the problem, it is they who create the market for child abuse material online, which causes further harm to our community‘s most vulnerable – our children,” Detective Sergeant Wheeler said speaking generally.

The ACCCE is committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and is at the centre of a collaborative national approach to combating organised child abuse.

The Centre brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into child sexual abuse and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.

Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or report online.