A Sydney man who was charged with child abuse-related offences last year has been hit with a further 129 charges after allegedly finding a “large volume of child abuse material” on seized devices.
Federal officers are now working to identify children in the alleged material.
The man was initially charged with eight counts of online child abuse material offences in July 2025, after the AFP linked him to alleged illegal online activity.
The Australian Federal Police have charged the man with a total of 137 offences. (Alex Ellinghausen)
Now he faces more than 130 charges, some of which carry a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment.
A non-publication order remains in place that prohibits the identification of the man and his previous employment.
The man, who has been in custody since the AFP first charged him in July, was first linked to alleged child abuse material after receiving a report of an online user uploading a file depicting child abuse.
A search of his home was carried out on June 20 and multiple electronic devices were seized for forensic analysis. The AFP will allege initial examinations of the man’s devices identified child abuse material, which led to the first eight charges being laid.
He reappeared in Parramatta Local Court today, where the additional charges were laid.
The AFP will allege that further forensic analysis of the man’s devices identified a large volume of child abuse material, resulting in the extra 129 charges.
The man now faces a total of 137 charges, including 68 counts of production of child abuse material, 29 counts of filming of a person engaged in a private act without consent, 18 counts of using a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material, and 11 counts of aggravated use of a child under 14 years for the production of child abuse material.
Other offences include intentionally sexually touching a child under 10 years and possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service.
The alleged offending occurred between 2009 and 2025, and each charge could land him behind bars.
Now the AFP is working to identify the children in the alleged abuse material found on the man’s devices.
“We know matters like this are a parent’s worst nightmare, and we have investigators and digital forensic experts working around the clock to methodically review 2.4 million electronic files,” AFP Detective Superintendent Luke Needham said
“Our priority is to analyse all available evidence and engage impacted families as soon as possible.”
The victim identification process in alleged child abuse cases can take months.
Needham said the review is in its final stages and impacted families will be notified in the coming weeks.
“Further information will be provided directly to impacted families as soon as possible, and there will also be a secure victim portal to receive information, updates and access to support resources,” he said.
Parents or guardians can share information with investigators by emailing op-moonbi@afp.gov.au.