Update in alleged daycare abuse case
Joshua Dale Brown, 26, was charged in May with more than 70 offences including sexual activity in presence of a child under 16, sexual assault of a child under 16 and possessing child abuse material.
He has yet to enter pleas to the charges.
Mr Brown had been remanded in custody and was expected to appear before Melbourne Magistrates Court on September 15.
But high-profile barrister Rishi Nathwani SC appeared in court on Tuesday as prosecutors requested additional time to prepare a hand-up brief of their evidence.
Magistrate Donna Bakos approved the request for police to Mr Brown's lawyers by a deadline of December 4.
His case was made public on July 1 after a suppression order was lifted, with police alleging Mr Brown abused eight children between the ages of five months and two years old.
Since then, police have established Brown worked at 23 childcare centres across Melbourne between January 2017 and May 2025, urging parents and carers to have 2000 children tested for sexually transmitted infections.
On July 15, Victoria Police said establishing Mr Brown's work history had been 'extremely complex' due to childcare providers not having centralised records.
The force said the investigation remains 'ongoing' and 'active', expecting to release further updates in the coming weeks.
In a statement, Acting Commander of Victoria Police's Crime Command Janet Stevenson said the investigation remains the 'highest priority' for police.
'We are working through a large amount of information that has been provided to us,' she said.
'I understand there are people who will be frustrated and I want to reinforce that this is a continually evolving and changing situation.
'I also want to remind people, especially those struggling with this news, that there is a number of support services readily available for impacted parties and I strongly encourage people to seek those out.'
Mr Brown is expected to return to court in February.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Colorado State Patrol seeing more DUIs with children in the car, victim's advocate speaks out
Colorado State Patrol says troopers are seeing increases with parents, loved ones, and caregivers driving behind the wheel intoxicated, while their children are in the car. CSP says its Victim's Advocate Unit responds to at least 24 cases a month. Six current advocates are responding to at least four cases a month. When a driver is pulled over for a DUI charge, they face child abuse charges as well. When a driver is pulled over for a DUI and there's a child in the car, a victim advocate is in charge of making sure the kid is safe and remains calm. The advocate will keep the child distracted with toys, coloring books, and conversation. Their main job is to keep kids away from the adult who was allegedly driving while intoxicated while troopers finish their investigation. The victim's advocate is called the moment the trooper sees a kid in the car and the driver shows signs of intoxication. This includes alcohol, prescription pills, cannabis, and anything recreational. If the child is young, like an infant or toddler, the victim advocate will contact the next of kin to pick up the child. If the child is old enough to speak, the victim advocate will ask them which adult they feel comfortable with. With both directions, the adult contacted must be sober and not have any warrants. The Victim's Advocate Unit says in many cases, after their investigation, they find out the child has been in this type of situation way more than once. "Many times, we have found out that these children have been put in harm's way more than two, three or even four times by the same parent," Dolores Poeppel, director of Victim Services Unit for CSP. "It's very important that we report it to DHS because we really feel like we are the voice for these children who have been in these circumstances numerous times." If the next of kin is out of town, the Victim's Advocate Unit will work with local hospitals and law enforcement to keep the children safe until they arrive. The person caught driving under the influence will be arrested and face charges of child abuse and DUI. These are two separate charges.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Accused serial rapist had notebook listing more than 30 women, WA officials say
A man accused in one of Everett's 'most complex and disturbing cases' is heading to prison for decades, officials in the Washington city said. Christian Sayre, 39, received a 109-year sentence in connection with multiple rape and indecent liberties convictions spread out over four trials, the Everett Police Department said in a July 21 news release. Sayre's attorney, David Roberson, declined to comment in a July 23 email to McClatchy News. Police in Everett started looking into Sayre about four years ago, 'after DNA evidence linked him to a 2020 sexual assault case,' officials said. Investigators 'uncovered dozens of potential victims and a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior stretching back over two decades,' according to officials. As they investigated, they found 'a notebook listing over 30 women, along with hard drives containing child pornography,' officials said, adding that 'several of the women named in Sayre's notes came forward and reported assaults, some dating as far back as 2001.' In all, Sayre was found guilty of 16 felony charges, among them 'multiple counts of rape and indecent liberties involving both adult and minor victims,' officials said. He's also facing sexual assault charges in Oregon, according to officials. Sayre was the owner of a bar in Everett called Anchor Pub, KCPQ reported. In the news release, Everett officials praised the investigators, prosecutors and survivors. 'The bravery of the survivors who came forward to share their trauma and experiences, brought justice for the egregious sexual assaults committed by Christian Sayre,' Everett police Det. Susan Logothetti said in the release. 'There is no doubt that their courage put an end to Sayre continuing his predatory behavior in this community.' Everett is about a 30-mile drive north from Seattle. Man kidnapped woman, chained her in his garage and raped her, NM officials say Man sex trafficked woman and then abandoned her in California forest, feds say Accused rapist's sister tries to bribe witness, then he's killed, MO cops say
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ruling in hockey players' trial expected Thursday
Seven years after an encounter that put sports culture under a national microscope and sparked a new wave of conversations about consent, a judge is set to rule on whether the actions of five hockey players inside a London, Ont., hotel room that night constituted sexual assault. (July 22, 2025)