Magistrate Doug Dick has rejected an application by Maurice Van Ryn’s defence solicitor to attempt to keep details of the confessed paedophile’s latest child sex allegations out of the media.
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Van Ryn, who is currently serving a jail term of 13 years and four months for abusing nine children, did not appear in Bega Local Court on Tuesday, October 23 and is yet to enter a plea.
He has been charged with three counts of aggravated sexual intercourse with a person aged between 14 and 16, two counts of sexual intercourse without consent, and one count of indecent assault of a person under the age of 16.
It is believed the alleged offences took place between 2010 and 2011.
Aggravated sexual intercourse with child of or above the age of 14 and below 16 carries a maximum sentence of 12 years in NSW.
In September 2015, Van Ryn pleaded guilty to abusing nine children between 2003 and 2014, and will remain behind bars until at least April 9, 2028.
Van Ryn’s defence solicitor Esther Colson lodged the non-publication order application on behalf of her client.
Magistrate Dick said concerns over Van Ryn’s “personal safety while incarcerated”, listed in the application, was a matter for Corrective Services NSW and not the courts.
Also listed on the application was concerns over the safety of Van Ryn’s family members, the possible negative effect media coverage would have on his family, the possibility of prejudicing a fair trial, and the effect publication of details would have on his previous victims.
Magistrate Dick rejected the application in order to safeguard the public interest in open justice.
He noted the application was under “remarkably similar” circumstances to the case of convicted paedophile William “Little Pebble” Kamm, who was jailed for a maximum of nine years in 2007 for having sex with two 15-year-old girls, claiming God and the Virgin Mary told him to use them to repopulate the earth.
Magistrate Dick had earlier temporarily suppressed Van Ryn’s identity when he was charged with 23 child sex offences in 2014.
On Tuesday, Magistrate Dick said there is “clearly a matter of urgency” surrounding the case, and told the court he did not want an adjournment to a date in the new year.
He adjourned the matter to Bega Local Court on Tuesday, December 18.
Far South Coast ambassador for child protection organisation Bravehearts Ken Steele said it was “sad but not unexpected” further child sex allegations have been made against Van Ryn.
Mr Steele said the non-publication order application was not “about the victims”, but keeping alleged offences “out of the public profile”.
Mr Steele labelled Van Ryn’s mention of the possible effects publication of his name would have on previous victims as “disgusting”.
“It goes to show the level of game playing that this man will go to in order to protect himself,” he said.