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- WARNING – THIS STORY CONTAINS DETAILS THAT MAY BE DISTRESSING
South Island man Storm Constable-Carter has pleaded guilty to 50 offences against the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act 1993, following an investigation by the Department of Internal Affairs’ Digital Child Exploitation Team.
The 22-year-old appeared in the Nelson District Court yesterday, August 20.
He was charged with four counts for creating objectionable material depicting bestiality and urination, 21 counts for distributing objectionable material depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, and bestiality, and 25 counts for possession of objectionable material depicting the sexual exploitation and abuse of children, and bestiality.
The maximum penalty for anybody who knowingly makes or knowingly trades, distributes, or displays an objectionable publication via the internet is 14 years’ imprisonment.
The act of knowingly being in possession of objectionable publications attracts a maximum of 10 years’ imprisonment.
“Child sexual exploitation material depicts a crime scene and the worst moments in a child’s life,” Digital Child Exploitation Team manager Tim Houston says.
“Every time an offender shares or accesses an image or video of child abuse, they are continuing the abuse of that child and exacerbating the threat of child sexual exploitation.”
The Department of Internal Affairs launched the investigation after identifying a video file depicting bestiality involving an infant in a cloud storage location.
The file was subsequently located in two separate internet accounts operated by Constable-Carter.
He’s next due to appear in court for sentencing on December 16.
The Department encourages the public to report any concerns about something they’ve seen online to the Digital Child Exploitation Team.
If anyone knows of abuse that’s happening now, or a child is at risk, call police immediately on 111.
