BREAKING: A 55-year-old man from Humpty Doo, Northern Territory, has been charged after a global undercover sting operation revealed his alleged attempts to solicit sexually explicit images from a child. Authorities confirm that the man believed he was meeting a 14-year-old girl from the United States, but was actually communicating with an undercover officer from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI).
The shocking details emerged when US authorities alerted Australian law enforcement in March 2025, leading to an immediate investigation by the Northern Territory Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (NT JACET). Police have accused the man of attempting to procure a child for sexual activity and sending indecent messages to an underage individual.
Following the investigation, his residence in Humpty Doo, located approximately 40 kilometers southeast of Darwin, was searched in April 2025. During this search, police seized a mobile phone for forensic analysis, uncovering sexually explicit images that linked him to the initial report from HSI.
Acting Senior Sergeant Sarah Firth of the Northern Territory Police stated,
“We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to ensure offenders are held accountable. Trust that if you are engaging in these crimes, you will be found next.”
On September 24, 2025, the man was formally charged with one count of procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia, facing a maximum penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment. He also faces a charge for using a carriage service to transmit indecent communications to a person under 16, which carries a penalty of up to 10 years’ imprisonment. His case is currently pending before the Darwin Local Court.
This urgent situation highlights the critical need for vigilance against online predators. If you or someone you know is affected by child sexual abuse or online exploitation, support services are available. For more information, visit the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation (ACCCE) website.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about similar incidents to come forward, reinforcing their commitment to safeguarding children from exploitation. This case underscores a growing global effort to combat child exploitation and protect vulnerable individuals online.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
