A Catholic primary school teacher has been charged with allegedly possessing child exploitation material following a raid by federal and state police.
Damien Brown, 44, appeared in the Launceston Magistrates Court on Wednesday after his arrest the previous day.
Police said officers from the Tasmania Joint Anti Child Exploitation Team (JACET) executed search warrants at a private residence in Riverside on Tuesday.
“During the search, devices containing child abuse material were located,” a spokesperson said.
Brown, a former journalist for various newspapers and television channels, is an intern teacher at St Thomas More’s Catholic Primary School in Launceston.
He has not yet entered a plea to the charges and will reappear in court in November.
A Catholic Education Tasmania spokesperson said they were aware an employee had today appeared before the courts.
“We wish to assure parents and all CET staff that our priority remains on the well-being, safety and support of our students and staff,” they said.
“CET is co-operating with Tasmania Police and the appropriate regulatory bodies and is undertaking appropriate internal investigations.”
“If anyone has any information that they consider may be relevant to this matter, we strongly encourage you to contact Tasmania Police directly on 131 444.”
