A 39-year-old Townsville man has been sentenced in the Townsville District Court for possessing child exploitation material. Jason Arthur Burns appeared before the court on charges related to the possession of child abuse material, with the court hearing that the offending occurred over a period of time.
Details of the Offence
The court was told that police executed a search warrant at Burns' home in 2022, where they seized multiple electronic devices. An examination of these devices revealed a significant number of images and videos depicting child exploitation. The material was found to be stored on various devices, including a laptop and mobile phone.
Sentencing Decision
Judge John Coker sentenced Burns to 18 months in prison, wholly suspended for two years. This means Burns will not serve time in custody unless he reoffends within the two-year period. He was also placed on a good behaviour bond and ordered to undergo assessment for sex offender treatment programs.
The court acknowledged that Burns had no prior criminal history and had shown remorse for his actions. His defence lawyer argued that Burns had sought help for his issues and was committed to rehabilitation. However, the judge emphasised the seriousness of the offence, noting that the possession of child exploitation material fuels the abuse of children.
Burns was also placed on the sex offenders register, which will require him to report his personal details to police for a set period.
