Warragamba: Domenic Fiorenza allegedly engaged in ‘sexually explicit’ conversation with ‘teenage girl’
A western Sydney man applied for bail after police allege he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with them but thought he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl on Facebook.
Parramatta
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Warragamba man Domenic Fiorenza was granted bail after police allege he engaged in sexually explicit conversations with them but thought he was communicating with a 14-year-old girl on Facebook.
The 34-year-old truck driver’s lawyer told Parramatta Local Court it would be a “guilty plea matter” when Fiorenza appeared via video link on Wednesday.
Strike Force Trawler detectives arrested Fiorenza at Westmead yesterday after Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit officers began engaging with the truck driver online in May.
Police alleged Fiorenza believed he was speaking with a teenage girl and engaged in conversations about sex acts he wished to perform on the adolescent.
A subsequent search of the man’s home uncovered mobile phones, laptops, a tablet device and ammunition.
He was taken to Parramatta police station and charged with using a carriage service to procure person under 16 years for sexual activity.
The man was refused bail.
However, at Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday, Magistrate Tim Keady granted Fiorenza bail despite the prosecution telling the court Fiorenza posed a risk to the community after engaging in sexually explicit conversation with whom he believed was a 14-year-old girl over a month when he was “constantly reminded’’ of her age.
“At no point did he cease to engage despite her age,’’ prosecutor Tsang said.
“The court should find there are no bail conditions to mitigate the threat to the community.’’
The prosecution also told the court of concerns Fiorenza would not attend court appearances because the alleged offence carried a 15-year jail sentence.
But Fiorenza’s lawyer Shelby Van Ooran said her client had no criminal convictions and would not be a risk to children because he did not have any of his own.
Magistrate Keady granted bail and imposed strict conditions requiring Fiorenza to report to Penrith police station three times a week, forbidding him to have contact with a child under the age of 16, restricting him from being within 100m of a school or preschool, banning him from using the internet or social media and requesting his brother and father post a $3000 surety for him.
“The offence is a serious one,’’ Mr Keady said.
“The case against Mr Fiorenza is a strong one.
“The major concern, however, is that whether real children may be at risk. I note there are no children in his life as close associates.’’
When Ms Van Ooran asked if one of her client’s days of reporting to the police station could switch from Friday to Saturday to make it less stressful around his work hours, Mr Keady rolled his eyes and replied: “Really? I think we’ll leave it as it is.’’
The matter will return to the court on August 21.