Accused paedophile Joshua Dale Brown won’t face court again until next year, after a magistrate gave police more time to gather evidence against him.
The childcare worker was not present for a brief hearing in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday, when prosecutors applied to extend his committal mention date.
Brown, 26, faces more than 70 charges relating to the alleged abuse of eight children in his care.
He first faced court on May 12 for a filing hearing but the case was suppressed until Victoria Police released the allegations on July 1.
Brown was due to return to court in September but magistrate Donna Bakos on Tuesday granted the prosecution’s application to push his next hearing back to February 10.
She accepted that detectives needed more time for their investigation and that it was likely more charges would yet be laid.
Bakos ordered police to serve their brief of evidence to the defence by December 4.
Brown’s barrister, Rishi Nathwani KC, did not oppose the prosecution’s application, telling the court he would also need time to consider the material.
He did fight against charge sheets being released to the media, arguing it was too early given the investigation was ongoing.
“Given the high-profile nature already, it would be terribly unfortunate if charges were released prematurely,” Nathwani said.
But Bakos noted the charges were on the public record and said she was not prepared to restrict access.
“Fair and accurate reporting at this stage requires the nature of the charges to be released,” she said.
It’s alleged Brown abused eight children aged under two at a Point Cook centre in Melbourne’s south-west between April 2022 and January 2023.
Victoria Police say the Creative Garden Early Learning Centre was one of the 24 childcare sites Brown worked at across Melbourne between January 2017 and his arrest.
Authorities have also advised the parents of about 2000 children who crossed paths with Brown to get them tested for infectious diseases.
Brown’s co-accused Michael Simon Wilson also did not appear in court on Tuesday. Prosecutors sought an extension of his committal mention date.
Wilson will return to Melbourne Magistrates Court on November 15.
Detectives have until October 4 to compile the brief of evidence against him. He is facing charges including possessing child abuse material, sex offences and bestiality.
1800 RESPECT 1800 737 732
National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 (for people aged 5 to 25)
-AAP
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