A Coffs Harbour child sex offender has been refused bail after allegedly failing to report three mobile phones, six email addresses and several online profiles, including dating-app accounts.
Robbie Schaefer, 59, faces three charges of failing to comply with his reporting obligations.
Schaefer has been subject to the NSW Child Protection Register’s reporting requirements for at least a decade.
The allegations were outlined during a hearing before Judge L Robinson in the Bail Division on Thursday, as Schaefer sat with his head down and remained silent.
Coffs Harbour child sex offender allegedly failed to report online profiles
The charges followed a compliance check at Schaefer’s Coffs Harbour residence.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Miller said electronic devices were seized and investigators allegedly identified three unreported mobile phones, six email addresses and several registrations on social-media and dating apps.
Images depicting children were also allegedly identified on the devices and remain under examination.
Schaefer has not been charged over those images, and the investigation is continuing.
Sergeant Miller opposed bail, citing concerns about further offending, community safety and possible interference with evidence on the devices.
Strict conditions proposed
Defence lawyer Tes Tasdemir acknowledged Schaefer’s criminal history but argued the risks could be managed through strict conditions.
Mr Tasdemir said Schaefer risked losing his accommodation and experienced memory loss and psychosis, although he was not seeing a doctor or taking medication.
The proposed conditions included police reporting, limiting Schaefer to one mobile phone, restricting his internet and social-media use, and requiring him to attend a mental-health service.
Judge Robinson found there was little confidence Schaefer would comply with any conditions imposed, given his history of breaching reporting requirements.
Bail was refused due to concerns about further offending and community safety.
Previous prison sentence
The Coffs Harbour child sex offender was sentenced in Coffs Harbour District Court in July 2024, for two previous reporting breaches and possessing child abuse material.
Judge M McHugh imposed an aggregate prison term of four years, five months and seven days, backdated to January 24, 2022, and expiring on June 30, 2026.
The sentence included a non-parole period of three years, one month and nine days, making Schaefer first eligible for parole on March 4, 2025.
During Thursday’s bail decision, Judge Robinson noted Schaefer had repeatedly breached his reporting requirements despite being subject to them for at least a decade.
Schaefer remains in custody and is due to appear by video link at Coffs Harbour Local Court on August 26.
He has not entered pleas to the three current charges, which remain before the court.