Ex-Priest Remains Silent Amid Child Abuse Charges in Sydney Court
A former priest faces serious charges for allegedly grooming a minor online and sending explicit photos
Sydney, Australia, Guy Hartcher, Child Abuse, Grooming, Court
Sydney: A former priest, Guy Norman Hartcher, is in hot water after being charged with some pretty serious stuff. He’s accused of sending explicit photos to a 14-year-old boy and trying to groom him for sex.
Hartcher, who’s 77, was arrested on December 23 at Pendle Hill. He thought he was meeting the boy, but instead, he ran into police detectives who were posing as the minor online.
It all started when police got a tip from Facebook about Hartcher’s account sharing child abuse material. During their chats, he allegedly sent explicit photos and talked about sexual acts he wanted to do with the boy.
He’s facing charges for using a service to procure a minor for sex and sending indecent material to someone under 16. When he appeared in Burwood Local Court, he didn’t say a word and looked pretty low-key in a rust-colored jumper and a face mask.
The magistrate pushed his case to March to check on the evidence against him. He was granted bail on Christmas Eve after paying a $10,000 surety but has some strict conditions. He can’t own a mobile phone unless it’s for medical or legal reasons, and he’s not allowed to contact anyone under 16 or go near schools or childcare facilities.
Police also took some USB drives and floppy disks from him, which they’re currently checking out. It’s a pretty serious situation, and it looks like it’s just the beginning for Hartcher.