Bail for teacher on child exploitation charges

Darrel Calvin Scott has appeared in the Northam Magistrates Court on three charges relating to the possession and distribution of child exploitation material. The court heard Mr Scott was working as a teacher at a high school in Western Australia's Wheatbelt at the time of the alleged offending. What's next? Mr Scott will next appear in court in October. A teacher in Western Australia's Wheatbelt has been granted bail after being charged with possession and distribution of child exploitation material. Darrel Calvin Scott, 28, appeared in the Northam Magistrates Court via video link from Hakea Prison today on two counts of distributing child exploitation material, and one count of possessing child exploitation material. Police prosecutors told the court Mr Scott was working as a teacher at a high school in the Wheatbelt region, 100km north-east of Perth, at the time of the alleged offending and had since lost his job as a result of the charges. There is nothing from his court appearance to suggest that any of the alleged offending related to students or his work at the school. Northam Senior High School sent a letter to parents and carers last week outlining support services for students impacted by the "court appearance relating to a staff member". "This is currently a WA Police Force matter, and the Department will assist should this be required," the letter read. "Please be assured that student safety and wellbeing remain at the forefront of any decisions. "Our school has support staff available for students as needed." The court heard Mr Scott was arrested at an address in Northam earlier this month where a preliminary search of his mobile phone uncovered three videos alleged to contain child exploitation material. It is alleged Mr Scott also shared the videos with two users on private messaging app Session. Police prosecutors, who opposed his application for bail, told the court online conversations found on the phone included Mr Scott discussing fantasies of inappropriate conduct with students. The court heard Mr Scott had admitted to saving the videos to his device and subsequently deleting them. Magistrate Sarah Wisbey granted Mr Scott bail and said it was due to his lack of prior criminal record and strict conditions. His bail conditions include a $5,000 personal undertaking and an additional $5,000 surety, as well as living with his parents, one of whom is a police officer, no internet access or unsupervised access to children. Mr Scott did not enter pleas to the charges and will next appear in October.