A man accused of accessing files related to “satanic” child abuse has been released on bail. Landon Germanotta-Mills claimed to law enforcement that he retrieved the files as part of his work as an investigative journalist, intending to “build a bigger case.”
Court documents reveal that Mr. Germanotta-Mills allegedly communicated with other users in a Telegram chat, stating, “Young doesn’t matter what age” while seeking out the illicit materials. He reportedly identified himself as an investigative journalist who had accumulated hundreds of files related to child abuse and bestiality on his phone for this purpose.
In November, Mr. Germanotta-Mills was arrested alongside several others following an investigation by New South Wales Police. This operation targeted an international network believed to be sharing child abuse materials that featured “ritualistic and satanic” elements. Authorities indicated that their inquiry uncovered a local “paedophile network” involved in the possession and distribution of such content online.
Facing 14 charges, Mr. Germanotta-Mills is accused of multiple counts related to possessing and accessing child abuse materials, as well as disseminating and possessing bestiality content. A Supreme Court judge granted him bail last week under stringent conditions, which require him to report to police daily, remain under home detention, surrender his passport, and refrain from using any internet-capable devices.
According to a statement from the Crown presented during the bail application, Mr. Germanotta-Mills allegedly operated five accounts on an encrypted storage and communication service, where he accessed approximately 6,880 files containing child abuse material. He is also accused of engaging in numerous one-on-one conversations on Telegram, from which he received 127 files related to child abuse and 91 files associated with bestiality.
In one specific conversation cited in the Crown’s documents, when asked about the type of “pervy porn” he was interested in, he reportedly replied, “Young doesn’t matter what age.” Prosecutors expressed their opposition to his bail release, highlighting concerns about the possibility of him failing to appear in court, committing further serious offenses, jeopardizing the safety of victims or the community, or tampering with witnesses or evidence. They noted that 11 of the charges he faces carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison.
The alleged offenses are said to have taken place over a span of slightly more than two years. The Crown’s submissions regarding the bail application included details about Mr. Germanotta-Mills possessing 691 files of child abuse material and 124 files of bestiality content across two mobile devices. The documents describe some of the child abuse material as depicting severe sexual acts characterized by extreme depravity and cruelty towards very young children, including infants.
Mr. Germanotta-Mills was taken into custody in late November of the previous year. As per court records, he expressed a willingness to cooperate with authorities, asserting that he wanted to explain his actions. He claimed that the Telegram account in question was not his personal account but rather one he used for work-related purposes, stating that he was an online journalist who produced numerous investigative articles.
In a statement attributed to him in the Crown’s submissions, he expressed regret about having the material on his devices, admitting, “It was on my devices to build a bigger case up.” He acknowledged that he should have reported the material to the authorities immediately rather than attempting to develop his story as a journalist.
The case is scheduled to return to court on May 27.
If you are seeking support, please contact the National Counselling Helpline at 1800 737 732, or for survivors of child sexual abuse, call 1800 272 831. For 24-hour crisis support and suicide prevention, reach out to 13 11 14. Additional resources for children and young people can be found at 1800 650 890 or au.reachout.com.
