Police given more time to investigate accused pedophile
Tara Cosoleto |
Accused pedophile Joshua Dale Brown’s court case has been delayed because detectives need more time to gather evidence against him.
The childcare worker did not appear for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date.
Brown, 26, has been charged with 73 offences relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care.
He first faced court on May 12 for a filing hearing but the case was suppressed until Victoria Police released the allegations on July 1.
Brown was due to return to court in September but magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted the prosecution’s application to push his next hearing back to February 10.
She accepted detectives needed more time for their investigation and it was likely more charges would be laid in the interim.
Police will have to serve their brief of evidence to the defence by December 4, the magistrate ordered.
Brown’s barrister Rishi Nathwani KC did not oppose the prosecution’s application, telling the court he would need time to consider the material as well.
He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing.
“Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely,” Mr Nathwani told the court.
But Ms Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and she was not prepared to restrict access.
“Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released,” she said.
It’s alleged Brown abused eight children aged under two at a Point Cook centre in Melbourne’s southwest between April 2022 and January 2023.
The Creative Garden Early Learning Centre was one of the 24 childcare sites Brown worked at across Melbourne between January 2017 and his arrest, Victoria Police say.
The charge sheets state he intentionally sexually touched an unknown child “where the touching was contrary to community standards of acceptable conduct” on 13 separate occasions.
Brown is also accused of producing and transmitting child abuse material, engaging in sexual activity in the presence of children, and sexually penetrating children aged under 12.
The 26-year-old is facing a separate charge of contaminating goods with intent to cause, or being reckless as to whether it would cause, public alarm or anxiety.
Victorian authorities have advised the parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown to get them tested for infectious diseases after he allegedly contaminated food with bodily fluids.
Brown’s co-accused Michael Simon Wilson, 36, also did not appear in court on Tuesday, although prosecutors sought an extension of his committal mention date.
Wilson will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 15, with detectives given until October 4 to compile the brief of evidence.
He is facing charges including rape, possessing child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality.
1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732)
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
AAP
