Footy coach to face child sex trial as charge laid over fourth alleged victim

Stephen James Porter outside the ACT courts. Picture: Blake Foden

A juniors football coach has been slapped with yet another child sex abuse charge after police interviewed a fourth alleged victim interstate.

Stephen James Porter, 50, will fight the child grooming allegation and 17 other charges in the ACT Supreme Court after being committed for trial on Monday.

The Ainslie Football Club coach was stood down from his role last year after The Canberra Times revealed he had been arrested and was suspected of sexually exploiting ACT children for about 20 years.

Mr Porter, of Macgregor, was initially charged over allegations made by a boy he allegedly abused for a number of years while conducting private Australian rules coaching.

Stephen James Porter, who has pleaded not guilty to 18 child sex charges. Picture: Facebook

Police alleged in court documents in the early stages of the case that the 50-year-old had "engaged in sexual intercourse with [this boy] approximately 45 times over the period of three-four years".

Investigators then charged Mr Porter later in the year with another two series of offences, alleging in part that he had used a second boy for the production of child exploitation material and groomed a third child.

Prosecutor Ryan Roberts told the ACT Magistrates Court earlier this month that a fourth potential victim, who now lived interstate, had also been identified and interviewed by police.

On Monday, the court heard Mr Porter had been charged as a result of those inquiries with grooming and depraving a child with intent to take part in or watch a sexual act.

Stephen James Porter, who will stand trial in the ACT Supreme Court. Picture: Blake Foden

Defence lawyer Adrian McKenna pleaded not guilty on his client's behalf to that allegation and said Mr Porter, who had already denied all the other charges, would waive his right to a committal hearing.

Magistrate Glenn Theakston accordingly committed Mr Porter, who is on bail, to the Supreme Court for trial.

The 50-year-old's case has been listed in the superior court for directions next Thursday morning.

Mr Porter is now charged with:

• Three counts of sexual intercourse with a child;
  
• Maintaining a sexual relationship with a child;
• Two counts of grooming and depraving a child;
  
• Two counts of using a young person for the production of child exploitation material;
• Possessing or controlling child abuse material;
• Using the internet to provide pornography to a child; and
• Eight counts of possessing child exploitation material.