A teacher’s aide has been charged after allegedly meeting children online and paying them to engage in sexual acts with him while filming.
Thomas Gottaas, 18, was arrested at his Picton home in Sydney’s south-west on Tuesday.
Police launched an investigation in September and in November, detectives seized electronics during a search warrant raid at his home.
Gottaas was arrested on Tuesday and was taken to Narellan Police Station where he was charged with two counts of acting as a client with child over 14 and below 18 in prostitution, producing child abuse material and possessing child abuse material.
‘Police will allege in court the man met children online who he paid to film them engaging in sexual acts with him,’ NSW Police said.
Police will further allege Gottaas had a number of fraudulent online profiles which he would use to extort young children.
Mr Gottaas was refused bail and fronted Moss Vale Local Court on Tuesday afternoon where an application for bail was refused.
He will remain behind bars on remand, with his next court date listed for March 19.
Investigations are continuing.