Devante Lorenz K R Richardson charged with 293 child sex abuse related charges

A 24-year-old Queensland man allegedly sexually abused children under 12 and recorded and distributed disturbing content over two-and-a-half years. LATEST

The case of a young Queensland man who is facing 293 child sex abuse related charges has once again been heard in court. Picture: iStock

The case of a young Mackay region man who is facing 293 child sex abuse related charges has once again been heard in court.

Devante Lorenz K R Richardson, 24, is alleged to have sexually abused children under 12, and recorded and distributed disturbing content over a period of two-and-a-half years.

Police allege Mr Richardson, who is originally from Sarina, indecently treated children under 12 and made child exploitation material on two specific dates – one in 2021 and one in 2022.

Police further allege the offending occurred in the Whitsunday and Sarina regions.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service solicitor Phillip Moore asked Magistrate Michelle Howard to excuse Mr Richardson’s appearance from Proserpine Magistrates Court on Monday.

Mr Moore said he was now in possession of all the material provided by prosecution since the last mention of the case, as a large number of additional charges had been brought forward by prosecution at the last minute.

Prosecutor Lachlan Perry told the court he would need to double check whether the defence indeed possessed all the evidence and would let Mr Richardson’s legal team know if there was “more material to consider” by the end of the week.

Mr Moore said he needed time to go over the evidence before deciding on a committal date, and to assess whether there was sufficient evidence against Mr Richardson to order him to face trial in a higher court.

The case will be next mentioned on January 29.

Mr Richardson was remanded in custody until then and no application for bail was made.

Originally published as Devante Lorenz K R Richardson charged with 293 child sex abuse related charges