ACA reporter Ben McCormack ‘negotiating’ on child porn charges

The lawyer for A Current Affair reporter Ben McCormack says he’s negotiating with prosecutors over the TV starts child porn charges.

Sam Macedone, who accompanied McCormack for an appearance today at a local court in Sydney, told the court that the talks with the Department for the Director of Public Prosecutors required “a bit more time”, the Daily Telegraph and other media outlets reported. The Daily Telegraph also published photographs of McCormack as he walked to court. 

Macedone asked for a change in McCormack’s bail condition so he has to report to police once a week, rather than twice. The lawyer also promised to enter McCormack’s plea at a hearing on September 26.

Outside court, Macedone reportedly said that he was confident a plea would be entered at the hearing but declined to reveal which parts of the case were being negotiated, citing confidentiality. 

The TV reporter, who appeared in the new photos to have put on weight in the time he’s been off-screen, faces two charges of using a carriage service to transmit, publish or promote child pornography. It has been reported that this relates to sending or receiving images by phone. 

McCormack was arrested in April after police staged dramatic raids on ACA’s offices ad his home in Sydney, and was subsequently hospitalised for a month for mental health treatment, missing early court appearances. The reporter is suspended from the prime-time Channel 9 news program, which has vowed to cover his case without fear or favour.

McCormack’s bail does not permit him to frequent areas such as parks and beaches, or communicate with anyone aged under 16.

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