Alice Springs police officer Jared Porch’s child abuse material offences plea

A Territory police officer accused of a spate of child abuse material offending across 16 months in Alice Springs has told a court how he will plea in the case.

Former NT Police officer Jared Porch has pleaded guilty in Alice Springs Supreme Court to a spate of child abuse material offences.

A former Alice Springs police officer has pleaded guilty to multiple charges of possessing, transmitting and soliciting child abuse material.

Jared Porch appeared before Justice Judith Kelly at the Alice Springs Supreme Court on Wednesday morning.

He plead guilty to six counts of using a carriage service to transmit a communication to a recipient with the intention of making it easier to procure a child who he believed to be under 16 years old to engage in sexual activity.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of engaging in conduct in relation to a child who is under 16 years old causing the child to engage in sexual activity using a carriage service with another person who was at least 18.

Jared Porch was an NT police officer in Alice Springs between 2009 and 2021.

Porch also pleaded guilty to one count of transmitting child abuse material, one count of attempting to solicit child abuse material and one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material.

Crown counsel barrister Mary Chalmers SC said 40 different persons were identified in the grooming and procuring offences, which spanned 16 months between July 31, 2020 and November 13, 2021.

She said one of these offences related to material involving a six-year-old child.

Ms Chalmers submitted reduced weight should be given to evidence of good character and that the sentencing principles of punishment, denunciation and deterrence should necessarily be given weight in the sentencing exercise.

“We say this is not a case where you would be going below the mandatory minimum because of the seriousness of offending,” she said.

Defence lawyer Gregory Betts submitted his client had no prior history, had made a significant contribution to the community through 15 years working for the South Australian fire service and Northern Territory police, had co-operated with police throughout the investigation and was willing to engage in treatment.

Mr Betts said Porch also suffered anxiety and depression due to the remote nature of his work.

He said Porch he planned to return to South Australia to live with his parents, who had both flown from that state to provide support.

He submitted these facts be considered in sentencing.

Justice Kelly adjourned the court for sentencing until Friday, March 24.

Originally published as Alice Springs police officer Jared Porch’s child abuse material offences plea