An Ainslie man accused of possessing child abuse material is anticipated to also face a sexual assault charge, a court has heard.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Angus Miles Gottaas-Hughes, 22, appeared via audio-video link in the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday when he was granted bail following a mental health assessment.
In a statement, ACT Policing said that in May 2021, anti-child exploitation team members received information from a foreign law enforcement agency about IP addresses being used to download child abuse material.
After a seven-month investigation, officers and members at specialist teams - including the AFP Victim Identification and AFP Digital Forensics - executed a search warrant at an Ainslie residence on Tuesday.
During the search, police seized a number of electronic devices containing child abuse material.
Police allege the devices were possessed by Mr Gottaas-Hughes.
He was charged with possessing child abuse material to which he has not pleaded.
In court on Thursday, Commonwealth prosecutor David Bloomfield said "there's an anticipation of a charge of sexual assault".
Mr Bloomfield said the complainant had already given evidence.
The defendant's lawyer, James Maher, did not object to that.
The court also heard the prosecutor did not oppose the defendant's bail application based on appropriate conditions.
MORE COURT AND CRIME NEWS
The conditions include that Mr Gottaas-Hughes not to enter or remain within 100m of a school or childcare centre.
He must not be in the company of any person under the age of 16 without another adult present.
He must also not be in Ngunnawal at any time and not approach any departure area of any port or airport.
Electronic devices capable of accessing the Internet are also barred.
After reading out the conditions to the defendant, magistrate James Stewart said: "Do you understand all of that?"
"I do," Mr Gottaas-Hughes said.
Mr Stewart said the most difficult ones were not to be in Ngunnawal at all and not to have any electronic devices capable of accessing the internet.
"If you want a phone, you're going to have to get someone else to help you find one of the old ones that doesn't have internet capability," he said.
"I'm sure they're getting harder to find every day."
The case is scheduled before the court again on January 13.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark canberratimes.com.au
- Download our app
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
