Australian author Craig Silvey has appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court after he was charged with allegedly possessing and distributing child exploitation material.
On Monday, the 43-year-old author was arrested at his home after he was allegedly caught “actively engaging” with other child exploitation offenders on the internet, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
Shortly after he was arrested, he was charged with the distribution and possession of child exploitation material.
On Tuesday, the Runt author fronted Fremantle Magistrates Court, where state prosecutors alleged the children’s author had participated in online chats where he mentioned “sexual interest” in children and distributed child exploitation material over several days in January.
Per ABC News, the prosecutor claimed he’d used an adult site and used the pseudonym “Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy”.
State prosecutors also alleged Silvey refused to hand over passwords to his devices, including his mobile and laptop, to authorities.
SMH reports the magistrate described the charges as “very serious”.
The author was granted bail on a $100,000 surety, and he must report to his local police station three times a week.
The publication also reported that Silvey is banned from any child-related work and is not allowed to be unsupervised around children, including his own. Silvey is also prohibited from accessing the internet.
Silvey is a critically acclaimed author with his novels, Jasper Jones and Runt, both being adapted into movies.
Silvey is set to face court on February 10.
Image source: Instagram.
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