A man accused of grooming children online for sex will face Albury court on Saturday after being extradited from Victoria following an investigation by Strike Force Trawler detectives.
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A NSW Police spokesman said police will allege that the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl from Arizona, USA, and later, a 14-year-old girl from NSW, and engaged in highly sexualised conversations and sent sexually explicit images and videos.
He said detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit (CEIU) commenced an investigation in June 2018, following a referral from officers at the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona, USA.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives travelled to Wagga Wagga in late September but were unable to locate the man.
An arrest warrant was subsequently applied for and granted.
As a result of further inquiries, a 41-year-old man was arrested by Cobram detectives at a home at Strathmerton, Victoria, about 8.20am on Thursday.
He later appeared at Shepparton Magistrates’ Court, where Strike Force Trawler detectives applied for and were granted his extradition to NSW.
The man was escorted by detectives to Albury Police Station, where he was charged with two counts of using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 years for sex, and two counts of using a carriage service to send indecent material to a person under 16.
He has been refused bail to appear at Albury Local Court on Monday.
Investigations are continuing.
Strike Force Trawler is an ongoing investigation by the CEIU into the sexual abuse and exploitation of children facilitated through the internet and related telecommunications devices.
Anyone with information about internet predators should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/
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