A man is facing fresh charges after police allegedly found child abuse material on his laptop while he was on bail for similar allegations.
Jett Guy Sterling, 27, faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday, June 19.
He is yet to enter pleas to two fresh charges of possessing child abuse material, and one count of refusing to comply with a court order.
Police said Sterling was first arrested in early 2026 after an investigation allegedly uncovered child abuse material on a phone he owned.
The court granted him conditional freedom on that occasion and the matter remains before the court.
On Thursday, officers searched his home in Gungahlin and seized a laptop that allegedly contained child abuse material. He was arrested shortly after.
On Friday, the man's Legal Aid defence lawyer argued Sterling should be released on bail under special circumstances, noting that he is a carer for his mother and has been diagnosed with mental health conditions.
The bail application was opposed by the prosecution and ultimately refused by Chief Magistrate Louise Taylor.
When denying Sterling's bid for conditional freedom, the magistrate said the man's circumstances did not meet the threshold for special or exceptional circumstances and could not justify his release back into the community.
His case will return to court in July.
