Christopher Frangos sentenced over vile sex talk

A former Lismore primary school teacher who admitted to sending vile sexual videos, photos and messages to a cop posing as a 14-year-old girl has learned his fate in court.

Christopher Frangos’ arrest in November 2023. Picture: NSW Police

A disgraced former Northern Rivers school teacher who sent lewd sexual videos, photos and chat messages to a police officer he believed to be a 14-year-old girl has walked from court after avoiding full-time jail.

Alstonville’s Christopher Frangos, 37, appeared in person surrounded by several family members before Judge Craig Smith in Lismore District Court on Monday.

Frangos previously taught at Alstonville Public School until he moved to Wyrallah Road Public School in East Lismore in May 2023.

Frangos pleaded guilty to using a carriage service to procure a child under 16 years old for sexual activity on August 28 last year, yet his sentencing was delayed due to legal bungling. 

Crown prosecutor Vanessa Barros Goncalves told the court during cross examination on Monday Frangos knew his offending would ruin his teaching career.

Former teacher at Wyrallah Road Public School Christopher Frangos was convicted and given a suspended sentence for use carriage service to procure child under 16 yrs for sexual activity. Picture: Christopher Frangos/LinkedIn

She suggested to Frangos that the interest shown from the child filled him with “hope and happiness” and gave him a “sense of self-worth” during a time of family, work, and financial pressure that left him depressed.

“The psychological dilemma I was in I wasn’t reconciling with my actions,” Frangos said.

Christopher Frangos arrest in November, 2023. Picture: NSW Police

He admitted to sending videos of himself masturbating to the child, asking her to describe her appearance, share her fantasies, and expressed his desire to meet her alone in her home – blaming his “psychological state”.

“I know how it looks so I plead guilty,” he said.

Frangos chatted to police posing as the 14-year-old girl with usernames discordteacher and joshBruce, despite knowing her purported age, the court heard.

He said: “As bad as it sounds, I think we have to meet on that beach … I’ll try to keep my c–k in my pants and my hands off you but it’ll be hard”, facts state.

Christopher Frangos arrest in November, 2023. Picture: NSW Police

Police learned he was a teacher after a two-hour online conversation on November 12, 2023. Four days later Frangos’ home was searched and he was arrested.

Judge Smith said he wasn’t satisfied Frangos went online to meet females under the age of 14.

He said “effectively the loss of employment as a teacher and treatment in custody were a form of punishment”.

Born in Victoria, Frangos’ parents divorced when he was a boy due to his father’s infidelity.

He worked several years in manufacturing, has a son with his first wife that he shares custody with and has a good relationship with his mother and sisters, the court heard.

He completed high school and attained a masters degree.

Lismore Court House in Zadoc Street.

The judge found Frangos’ engagement with treatment “genuine” but that it would stop if he were to be incarcerated.

“I am satisfied he is remorseful and has insight into his wholly and immoral criminal behaviour,” Judge Smith said.

The judge said Frangos is unlikely to reoffend.

He sentenced Frangos to a 20-month jail term to be suspended, and for him to be released on a $100 Commonwealth recognisance.

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Originally published as Christopher Frangos sentenced over vile sex talk