Michael Simon Wilson: Man linked to accused childcare abuser pleads not guilty

A man accused of leading police to former childcare worker and alleged paedophile Joshua Brown has pleaded not guilty to dozens of charges.

Michael Simon Wilson, 36, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday where he opted to fast-track more than 60 charges to a higher court.

The alleged offences include child abuse possession and transmission, aggravated use of a carriage service, bestiality, and his alleged rape of a teen he met on social media.

Wilson was alleged to have committed the offences between April 2022 and May 2025, and many of the charges arose from an analysis of his mobile phone, the court was told previously.

His lawyer Heather Anderson said that set of offences were proceeding straight to the County Court with pleas of not guilty to each as they involved alleged child victims.

Wilson, who appeared in court via video link from Metropolitan Remand Centre on Friday, was asked to formally enter his plea before magistrate Gerard Lethbridge.

“Not guilty, Your Honour,” the accused man replied as the charges were aired.

“I have noted your pleas of not guilty to all charges,” Mr Lethbridge said.

“As no application for bail is made, you are remanded in custody.”

He will next face a directions hearing at Melbourne’s County Court on December 15.

Wilson is separately accused of eight offences, including rape and allegations he detained a woman against her will and kept her under surveillance.

Ms Anderson said her client planned to fight those charges, and a one-day contested committal hearing was set down for February 25 next year.

In October, Wilson tried for a gag order over his case and its alleged links to Brown.

He failed after a magistrate found just because Brown’s case had “notoriety” it did not mean he was entitled to a suppression order.

Prosecutors told the court at the time police were investigating Wilson’s alleged offending when they found information on his devices that led them to the accused childcare molester.

Brown, who will next face court in February, has been charged with more than 70 offences related to his alleged abuse of eight children in his care between April 2022 and January 2023.

He is yet to enter a plea to any of the charges.

Wilson is not charged with any childcare-related offending.

Lifeline 13 11 14

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)

National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028