MP’S son arrested, denied bail
THE SON of a North Queensland politician will remain behind bars after police allegedly found child abuse material on his phone.
Daniel James Knuth, 24, the son of Katter’s Australia Party Member for Hill Shane Knuth, faced Townsville Magistrates Court from custody on Monday and was denied bail.
It is alleged Knuth, who the court heard was previously convicted of sex offences, was trying to delete items from his mobile phone as officers arrived at his home late last week.
In 2019, Knuth avoided jail and served a sentence in the community after he pleaded guilty to other offences including using the internet to procure a child linked to his use of a fake Facebook profile.
The 24-year-old is now charged with four counts of failing to comply with reporting and a single charge of possessing child exploitation material.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Rachel Todd opposed the application on the grounds Knuth posed too high a risk of committing further offences.
Police allege Knuth, who is subject to a suspended sentence and probation order, used Snapchat and other social media sites to exchange pictures and videos with users who “appeared to be children”.
“He is alleged to have been using a false name,” she said.
“Even while being supervised on probation and having reporting conditions imposed on him, the defendant has … attempted to circumvent those … to avoid detection.”
Knuth’s phone was seized and initial examinations found a video on his phone which allegedly showed a young girl between the ages of 10 and 12 dancing and taking off her clothes before she engaged in a sexual act.
Police further allege that the 24-year-old was attempting to delete applications from his mobile phone when police arrived to search his home late last week.
Sergeant Todd said a forensic examination of the device would determine “a more accurate picture” of Knuth’s alleged offending.
Duty lawyer Rhianna Lee said Knuth, who was born with dwarfism, would be “particularly vulnerable” in custody due to his condition.
She said bail conditions w h i c h barred Knuth from having a phone or using a phone could reduce his risk of reoffending.
Knuth’s parents travelled from Charters Towers to support him in court.
When he was sentenced in 2019, Knuth avoided jail time because of his condition and related toiletry needs and the court was told the 24-year-old was unable to use the bathroom without assistance.
“I am unsure Corrections would have the facilities to assist him at this present point of time,” Mr Knuth’s lawyer said.
She said the forensic examination of the phone was a lengthy process which could cause significant delay.
She argued his record of complying with bail was unblemished.
Magistrate Ken Taylor said he took into account Knuth’s condition but ultimately refused bail on the grounds he had “no confidence” any conditions put on Knuth would be adhered to.
Mr Taylor said the “significant time” Knuth took to open the door when police arrived to search his home and that the 24-year-old was accused of attempting to remove things from his phone was “concerning”.
Knuth was remanded in custody. The matter will be mentioned next in Charters Towers on December 14.