Fresh charges expected for former childcare worker Joshua Dale Brown
On Tuesday, lawyers for Joshua Dale Brown appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, where he is accused of abusing eight children while working as a childcare educator at Creative Garden Early Learning in Point Cook, in Melbourne's western suburbs.
The 26-year-old is facing more than 70 charges including sexually penetrating children, sexual activity in the presence of a child and contaminating food.
Rishi Nathwani KC, who is representing Mr Brown, told the court the charges against his client were "in flux".
"The informant said there will be more charges," Mr Nathwani said, as he asked the court not to release charge sheets to the media.
"It would hinder the realisation of natural justice in his case and prejudice the administration of justice at this stage.
"I'd ask your honour to resist it and not grant it at this stage."
But Magistrate Donna Bakos disagreed.
"The thing about your application Mr Nathwani is that the charges are effectively a matter of public record," she said.
"I'm not prepared to restrict access.
"They are the charges before the court."
Mr Brown was due to return to court in September but during a brief administrative hearing today, that date was changed to early February.
He is now believed to have worked at 24 childcare centres over his career and his alleged offences have sparked a massive public health response, with authorities urging more than 2,000 children to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases as a precaution.
Mr Brown was arrested after police started investigating another man, Michael Simon Wilson, for the alleged rape of a teenage boy at Hoppers Crossing, also in Melbourne's western suburbs.
The ABC understands detectives who examined Mr Wilson's devices discovered material linking him to Mr Brown, who is also facing child abuse material charges.
Police will allege the two men are known to each other.
Mr Wilson was also due to return to court in September but will now return to court in November.
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