A Canberra Institute of Technology lecturer accused of offences against young boys was about to seek guardianship for his alleged victim, a court has heard.
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Police are still sifting through electronic equipment in an attempt to identify any further alleged victims.
The defendant, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the child, made his second unsuccessful bail application in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday.
A tip from Canadian law enforcement led Australian Federal Police to raid the man’s home last month.
They seized electronic equipment which allegedly contained more than 190,000 child pornography files.
The defendant was arrested and charged with child porn possession, using a child to produce pornography, committing an act of indecency, and using a carriage service to access child pornography.
A police informant told the court officers discovered 77 images of a 14-year-old boy who lived with the accused. She said the images appear to have been taken while the boy was asleep or unconscious between April and September this year.
The officer said police were cataloguing the contents of the electronic equipment, but believe they have identified a second alleged victim and possibly a third. She said the alleged victims may not know they have been abused as the pictures were taken when they were unaware.
The court heard the accused had made partial admissions to police about the alleged offending, indicating he had for years gone through periods of downloading and collecting child pornography before deleting it, abstaining and starting the process again.
The informant said a relative of the child who visited the defendant in jail had been asked to tell the 14-year-old he loved him.
The accused had also sought information on becoming the boy’s guardian, the court heard.
The prosecution opposed bail, arguing the man could continue to offend or interfere with witnesses.
But the defence said strict bail conditions, including restrictions to internet use and a ban on contact with alleged victims, would manage potential risks. The defence said the accused had an otherwise exemplary record in the community.
But Special Magistrate Maria Doogan refused the bail application as there was a risk he would continue to offend. Mrs Doogan said the allegations before the court were that the offending had been ongoing for a considerable period of time. She said she could not grant bail when the number of children he had contact with was unknown.
The man was remanded to reappear later this month.