Ronald Houghton: Ravensthorpe man handed fresh charge of distributing child exploitation material, fined

A Ravensthorpe man accused of producing child exploitation material has been handed a new charge of distributing child exploitation material, and has been fined for possessing “disturbing” pornography.

Ronald Houghton, 59, connected to Albany Magistrates Court via audio link from Perth on Thursday, with his lawyer Lisa Riley also connecting over the phone.

Mr Houghton appeared on four charges including a new charge of distributing child exploitation material, alleged to have been committed in Ravensthorpe on October 28.

The new charge, along with two counts of producing child exploitation material, were set down for a committal mention hearing on April 16 in Albany Magistrates Court.

Mr Houghton was sentenced on the fourth charge against him, possessing or copying an indecent or obscene article.

Police prosecutor Sgt Gary Simpson told the court a warrant had been executed at Mr Houghton’s home address in Ravensthorpe, where police confiscated multiple electronic items including his Samsung mobile phone.

He said on one of the devices, police found a string of messages on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, where Mr Houghton had been both sending and receiving “disturbing” illegal pornographic content, including images depicting bestiality.

Mr Houghton told police he did not think it was illegal to possess the content.

Defence lawyer Lisa Riley said Mr Houghton had received the content from another person, and had been cooperative with police, giving them the pin code and password to his devices so they could be searched.

Magistrate Rosemarie Myers said although Mr Houghton had a limited criminal history, she was “not sure” she could accept his explanation of not knowing the obscene content was illegal.

He was fined $800, and had his bail extended under the same conditions on his remaining three charges.

No further details were revealed regarding the child exploitation material charges, to which Mr Houghton has not yet entered any pleas.