Pine Creek man, 50, faces charges over child sexual abuse material in Katherine Court

A 50-year-old NT man has been slapped with 21 charges after a US child exploitation watchdog tipped off the Australian Federal Police.

A man has been slapped with 21 child abuse charges.

A man could face a lengthy prison term after a US child exploitation watchdog tipped off the Australian Federal Police.

AFP Superintendent Gregory Davis said the 50-year-old Pine Creek man faced 21 child abuse material charges and would front the Katherine Local Court on Monday.

Superintendent Davis said each charge came with a maximum penalty of 15 years behind bars.

“This is not a victimless crime,” he said.

“Children are not commodities to be used for the abhorrent gratification of sexual predators.

“Our message to online offenders has not changed – if you procure, access and transmit child abuse material, we will find you, and you will be prosecuted.”

Superintendent Davis said the NT Joint Anti Child Exploitation team – including AFP and NT Police members – launched an investigation into the man’s alleged offending after the United States’ National Centre for Missing and Exploited Children tipped off the AFP.

He said investigators allegedly found child abuse material on the man’s phone, which was seized for forensic examination.

Superintendent Davis said the man was arrested and charged on February 21 and faced six child abuse charges – including possessing, soliciting, and transmitting child abuse material – in the Katherine Local Court the next day.

He said the man had been charged with an additional 15 child abuse charges since his first court appearance and was due to appear in the Katherine Local Court on those charges on Monday.

NT Police Detective Sergeant Mark Cronin said the man’s behaviour was “completely reprehensible”.

“This investigation shows the importance of multi-agency operations working together to apprehend offenders such as these who pose a serious risk to the vulnerable in our community,” he said.

“The Northern Territory JACET will continue to work with our national and international partners to keep the community safe.”