Landon Germanotta-Mills: Man facing child abuse material possession charges allegedly told cops he was a journalist
An alleged child predator told police he was ‘building a case’ when hundreds of abuse files were found on his phone, newly released documents say.
A man recently bailed for his alleged role in a “satanic” ring of child predators allegedly told police he was in possession of hundreds of child abuse and bestiality files at the time of his arrest because he was engaging in investigative journalism.
A disturbing brief of evidence has revealed self-described ‘investigative journalist’ Landon Germanotta-Mills was allegedly in possession of 217 files containing child abuse material and a further 91 files containing bestiality material at the time he was arrested by NSW Police in Waterloo in November last year.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.The defendant was bailed last week against the wishes of prosecutors to a location in NSW which can’t be named for legal reasons, facing 14 charges related to the possession, access and dissemination of child abuse and bestiality material.
Court documents allege that when police arrived at his home early in the morning on November 27, the accused allegedly said he was “more than willing to co-operate” with officers if he got the chance to “explain reasons” as to why they had allegedly found hundreds of instances of child and animal abuse material on multiple phones in his flat.
“At about 6.28am, the Accused was asked if the two mobile phones identified next to him were his. The Accused responded: ‘yes’. He then indicated that he was a journalist that works online and runs a lot of ‘investigative articles,” the documents state.
Mr Germanotta-Mills is then alleged to have told police that he was also an abuse victim, and that he didn’t like having the material on his devices.
“It was on my devices to build a bigger case up … and now that I’m saying it, I’ve realised that I should have sent it straight away to you guys and reported it straight away instead of trying to make my case and build, be a typical journalist to get my story,” he allegedly said.
The majority of the files were circulated around a group called “boys Mega link exchange” which prosecutors say had “97 other participants”.
Speaking at the time of arrest, Sex Crimes Squad Commander Jayne Doherty said: “Police will allege in court that this international group were engaging in conversations and the sharing of material which depicted child abuse and the torture of children, involving symbols and rituals linked to Satanism and the occult.”
Mr Germanotta-Mills will next appear in court on May 27.
