An investigation into allegations of child sex crimes has seen a man arrested and brought before Dubbo Local Court on more than a dozen charges.
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The 45-year-old was refused bail at the first mention of two cases on Wednesday.
The most recent of the offences were alleged to have occurred two years ago, while others went back 11 years ago, the court heard.
The man has been charged with five counts of aggravated sexual assault with a victim under the age of 16 years.
He also faced four related charges of committing an act of indecency with a person under 16 years of age, and one count of assault with act of indecency.
No pleas were entered.
The defence conceded the nature of the matter triggered provisions that meant cause must be shown for why detention was not justified.
In a separate set of charges also before the court, the man has been charged with eight counts of indecent assault of a person under 16 years of age.
The accused sat in the dock as the defence made submissions to show cause.
The man did not have an extensive record, his solicitor said.
The defence proposed the man could live at an address at a western NSW town outside Dubbo while on bail.
It was the home of a gentleman who had no children present and who would undertake to ensure the accused complied with his bail, the solicitor said.
The accused also had family support, the court heard.
Legislation defined the accused as a vulnerable person, and he had a strong need to be in the community to prepare his defence, his solicitor said.
The prosecution submitted the show cause provisions had not been met.
The complainants in the matters had not resided with the accused, so the bail condition proposed by the defence would not satisfy the court, the prosecutor said.
The allegations involved “ongoing conduct” in two separate matters, he said.
Magistrate Paul Hayes said in determining bail, the court considered a number of factors.
He acknowledged the man had a limited record, and that he met the definition of a vulnerable person.
However the magistrate found on balance cause had not been shown for why detention was not justified and said there was no option but to refuse bail.
The man was led back into custody, and will face court again in January.
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