<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A man charged with </span><a href="http://www.9news.com.au/child-abuse" rel="" target="" title="abusing hundreds of children"><span>abusing hundreds of children</span></a><span> around the world using social media and gaming sites will remain behind bars.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ethan Mitch Burns-Dederer, 27, from Maryborough north of Brisbane, faces almost 600 offences against children aged five to 15.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Burns-Dederer hid behind false identities online to groom and coerce children in Australia and overseas, police allege.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-woman-charged-over-death-of-woman-in-goulburn/8d3af885-15ff-48a4-a38a-36acbd942158" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Woman living next door one of two charged with ex-partner's murder</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Burns-Dederer did not appear in court, where his case was adjourned to July for further mention before an expected committal hearing. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police this week unveiled the vast haul of charges after an exhaustive year-long investigation to identify alleged victims from among 23,000 photographs and videos.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than 360 victims have been identified, including more than 200 across Australia.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/accused-child-predator-to-remain-in-custody-ethan-mitch-burns-dederer/ffc54ecc-9691-49c1-9816-6264897a5e39" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The material was found on hard drives and electronic devices during a raid of his Maryborough home in February 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The alleged offending involves 459 victims, primarily aged between seven and 15, in 15 countries.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Burns-Dederer is accused of creating multiple fake online profiles on popular social media and gaming sites.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He allegedly used them to groom, coerce and threaten children into sending him sexually explicit material, recording the interactions.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The offending was ongoing from 2018 until his arrest.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It had been "disturbing and distressing" for the young people and their families involved, Detective Acting Chief Superintendent Denzil Clark said yesterday.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/woman-stabbed-man-shot-dead-manning-great-lakes/1f67fabc-732a-4a5b-96bc-246e1d32c845"><strong><span>Man shot dead after woman stabbed in NSW home invasion</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Burns-Dederer was charged under Operation Xray Wick featuring Queensland, national and international law enforcement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Due to the volume of images seized and the number of victims identified, we are continuing this investigation," Clark said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He said other offenders had been identified, with another person charged as investigations remained ongoing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"This is extremely concerning and disturbing offending," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are seeing an increasing prevalence of children being groomed, coerced or threatened into taking and sending sexual images of themselves, often through popular apps, games and social media sites.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The trauma that this causes a child is significant."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Burns-Dederer's charges included 244 counts of producing child abuse material for use through a carriage service and 163 counts of using a carriage service to procure persons under 16 years of age.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He also faces a further 87 counts of engaging in sexual activity with a child using a carriage service.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>National Sexual Abuse and Redress Support Service 1800 211 028</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (for people aged 5 to 25)</span></strong></div></div>