A 31-year-old man named Samuel Emmerson Howard Blackley remains in custody following his arrest in Kippa Ring, near Brisbane, on December 7, 2024, for charges related to drug offences and child exploitation. Blackley is accused of using the internet to exploit children both in southeast Queensland and the Philippines.
During a police investigation, authorities discovered child exploitation material at Blackley’s residence, identifying several alleged victims, including two children from Queensland and others located in the Philippines. Queensland Police collaborated with the Australian Federal Police and Filipino authorities to successfully rescue five children, four girls and one boy, from abusive scenarios on February 20.
Since his arrest, Blackley has not been granted bail, and his lawyer, Kristie Koo, has indicated no formal request for bail will be submitted. Magistrate Mark Bucknall has noted that prosecutors are preparing a detailed evidence brief for all charges and has set a deadline of June 2025 to determine the case’s progression, including potential committal proceedings.
Charges against Blackley include three counts of possessing child exploitation material and a single count of using a carriage service to menace or harass. Subsequent charges filed in January bring the total to 27, which include allegations of supplying illegal drugs such as cannabis and methamphetamine, child grooming, and the indecent treatment of a child with a cognitive impairment.
The matter has been adjourned until May 29, with Blackley excused from appearing in person. The legal proceedings aim to advance to a registry committal, allowing the case to proceed to trial in a higher court without the need for a preliminary committal hearing in the Magistrates Court.