Media Release
NT man charged over alleged possession of thousands of child abuse material files
This is a joint release between Australian Federal Police and Northern Territory Police Force
A Darwin man has appeared in Darwin Local Court today (22 July, 2026) charged over the alleged possession of thousands of child sexual abuse images.
The Northern Territory Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET), comprised of investigators from AFP and Northern Territory Police Force, began an investigation after receiving reports from the United States’ National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) about an online user in Australia accessing files allegedly containing child abuse material.
NT JACET investigators linked the man, 71, to the alleged offending and executed a search warrant at a Darwin home yesterday (21 July, 2026).
It will be alleged that during the search warrant investigators located various electronic devices including mobile phones, tablets, hard drives, USBs and laptops, each containing explicit child abuse images and video files. An examination is ongoing into the tens of thousands of files on the electronic devices.
The man was charged with:
* One count of using a carriage service to access child pornography material, contrary to section 474.19 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth);
* One count of using a carriage service to access and/or transmit child abuse material, contrary to section 474.22 (1) of the Criminal Code (Cth); and
* 10 counts of possessing child abuse material for use through a carriage service, contrary to section 474.22(A) of the Criminal Code (Cth).
Each of these offences carries a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment.
The man is due to reappear in Darwin Local Court on 29 September, 2026.
AFP Acting Superintendent Dean Santolin said the AFP and its state, Commonwealth and international law enforcement partners were committed to protecting vulnerable members of the community.
“The AFP works collaboratively with our law enforcement partners to investigate and disrupt online child exploitation, share intelligence and keep children safe from harm,” a/Supt Santolin said.
“This is not victimless crime. Every image, every view, and every download has a significant and life-long impact on young victims.
“The AFP and our partners will relentlessly pursue anyone involved in the harm of children. We will use every resource available to identify and prosecute alleged offenders.”
Northern Territory Police Force Detective Senior Sergeant Toby Wilson said this had been an extensive, collaborative JACET investigation into alleged prolonged, reprehensible behaviour.
“Anyone who possesses child abuse material is directly financing and encouraging those who produce and distribute it,” Det Sen Sgt Wilson said.
“If you are committing offences that involve child abuse material, expect a knock on the door from JACET officers.”
The AFP and its partners are committed to stopping child exploitation and abuse and the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) is driving a collaborative national approach to combatting child abuse.
The ACCCE brings together specialist expertise and skills in a central hub, supporting investigations into online child sexual exploitation and developing prevention strategies focused on creating a safer online environment.
Members of the public who have information about people involved in child abuse are urged to contact the ACCCE. If you know abuse is happening right now or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 000.
If you or someone you know is impacted by child sexual abuse and online exploitation, support services are available.
Advice and support for parents and carers about how they can help protect children online can be found at the ThinkUKnow website, an AFP-led education program designed to prevent online child sexual exploitation.
For more information on the role of the ACCCE, what is online child sexual exploitation and how to report it visit the ACCCE website.
Note to media
Use of term 'CHILD ABUSE' MATERIAL not ‘CHILD PORNOGRAPHY’
The correct legal term is Child Abuse Material – the move to this wording was among amendments to Commonwealth legislation in 2019 to more accurately reflect the gravity of the crimes and the harm inflicted on victims.
Use of the phrase ‘child pornography’ is inaccurate and benefits child sex abusers because it:
- indicates legitimacy and compliance on the part of the victim and therefore legality on the part of the abuser; and
- conjures images of children posing in 'provocative' positions, rather than suffering horrific abuse.
Every photograph or video captures an actual situation where a child has been abused.
