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A disgusted judge agreed that a computer programmer’s stash of child abuse material was “really heinous” after seeing some of the disgraceful files. Judge Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson’s comments on Wednesday came as counsel for Geoffrey Robert Appleby conceded that immediate jail time was the only appropriate sanction. Appleby, 45, has been behind bars on remand since police raided his Higgins home in August 2020 as part of Operation Molto, a nationwide investigation into child abuse. He is expected to be sentenced later this month after pleading guilty to 18 charges of child abuse and invasion of privacy stemming from the search. Court documents show that Appleby uploaded 2,880 videos and 651 images, later classified as child abuse material, to the internet in October 2019. Investigators found these files along with 650 other similar files on his laptop and her cell phone, which also contained hidden camera footage and photographs of women using two bathrooms. During Appleby’s sentencing proceeding on Wednesday, prosecutor Imogen Thomas told the ACT Supreme Court: “It is no exaggeration to say that the [child abuse] material in this matter is really heinous. Judge Loukas-Karlsson nodded and replied, “This is really heinous. “to be locked up where they belong”. Ms Thomas also told the court it was important not to lose sight of the seriousness of the privacy breaches, saying there had been many victims raped by the bathroom shooting. She said Judge Loukas-Karlsson should remain “guarded” on Appleby’s rehabilitation prospects, saying the man had made “inconsistent” comments about his level of understanding and remorse. Appleby’s attorney, Alyn Doig, admitted the time behind bars was justified, saying it would be “a mad rush” to try to downplay the seriousness of the 45-year-old’s crimes. But Mr Doig said his client had already spent more than seven months in pre-trial detention, using the time to take “remarkable steps” towards rehabilitation. He said Appleby had shown “refreshing” honesty when discussing his offense and his lack of understanding of some of his behaviors, stating that he was “a work in progress” who did not want to again break the fall of the law. Mr Doig urged Judge Loukas-Karlsson to draft a sentence that allowed Appleby, as soon as possible, “to prove to society that he has learned a very valuable lesson.” The judge, who previously told Appleby her offenses were “appalling,” said she would impose a sentence on March 30. Our journalists work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content:
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A disgusted judge agreed that a computer programmer’s stash of child abuse material was “really heinous” after seeing some of the disgraceful files.
Judge Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson’s comments on Wednesday came as counsel for Geoffrey Robert Appleby conceded that immediate jail time was the only appropriate sanction.
Court documents show that Appleby downloaded 2,880 videos and 651 images, later classified as child abuse material, from the internet in October 2019.
Investigators found these and 650 other similar files on her laptop and mobile phone, which also contained hidden camera footage and photographs of women using two bathrooms.
During Appleby’s sentencing proceedings on Wednesday, prosecutor Imogen Thomas told the ACT Supreme Court: “It is no exaggeration to say that the [child abuse] material in this matter is really heinous. “
Judge Loukas-Karlsson nodded and replied, “This is really heinous.
The judge had earlier in the proceedings examined a selection of the material in order to assess its depravity, before ordering that the samples be “locked up where they belong”.
Ms Thomas also told the court it was important not to lose sight of the seriousness of the privacy breach, saying there had been many victims raped by the bathroom shooting.
She said Judge Loukas-Karlsson should remain “guarded” about Appleby’s rehabilitation prospects, saying the man made “inconsistent” comments about his level of understanding and remorse.
“An immediate and effective sentence of detention is necessary and is the only appropriate sentence in this case,” Ms. Thomas said.
Appleby’s attorney, Alyn Doig, admitted the time behind bars was justified, saying it would be “a mad race” to try to downplay the seriousness of the 45-year-old’s crimes.
But Mr Doig said his client had already spent more than seven months in pre-trial detention, using the time to take “remarkable steps” towards rehabilitation.
He said Appleby had shown “refreshing” honesty when discussing his offense and his lack of understanding of some of his behaviors, stating that he was “a work in progress” who did not want to again break the fall of the law.
Mr Doig urged Judge Loukas-Karlsson to draft a sentence that allowed Appleby, as soon as possible, “to prove to society that he has learned a very valuable lesson.”
The judge, who previously told Appleby her offenses were “appalling,” said she would impose a sentence on March 30.
Our reporters work hard to provide local and up-to-date news to the community. Here’s how you can continue to access our trusted content:
