Alan Jones hit with new charges
Alan Jones has been hit with two additional charges, following his dramatic arrest on Monday.
Police laid 24 charges against the veteran broadcaster on Monday, and on Tuesday morning announced two additional charges had been laid, relating to an additional ninth alleged victim.
“Following further legal advice, the man was charged with an additional two counts of assault with act of indecency relating to a ninth victim,” a police spokesperson said.
The 83-year-old was arrested at his three-storey home in Sydney’s Circular Quay by specialist detectives about 7.45am on Monday and taken to Day Street Police Station, where he received bail and was seen leaving, dressed in a green tracksuit and leaning on a wooden walking stick, in the early evening.
Police will allege there were nine victims, and 26 charges have been laid in relation to alleged indecent assault and sexual touching incidents between 2001 and 2019.
Police will allege the youngest victim was 17 years old.
The charges include 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault - victim under authority of offender, 11 counts of assault with act of indecency, two counts of sexually touch another person without consent and two counts of common assault.
He was granted conditional bail, to appear before a Sydney Court next month.
In court police will allege the authority Jones acted under was an employment contract.
Speaking to media on Monday, NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Michael Fitzgerald said: “In regards to the victims, we will allege that the accused knew some of them personally. Some of them professionally. And we’ll also allege that some of the victims, when the alleged offence took place, was the first time that they ever met the accused.”
His lawyer said Jones would “assert his innocence” in court.
”He denies any misconduct. This matter will be defended,” defence lawyer Chris Murphy said.
”Mr Jones will be defending this case. He’s presumed innocent.”
What’s next for Alan Jones?
Alan Jones has spent his first night on strict police bail as his lawyers prepare to defend their star client against 26 criminal charges.
Defence lawyer Chris Murphy told a media pack outside a Sydney police station on Monday that Mr Jones would “assert his innocence” in court.
“He denies any misconduct. This matter will be defended,” Mr Murphy said.
“Mr Jones will be defending this case. He’s presumed innocent.”
He went on the criticise Mr Fitzgerald for “praising witnesses who he might like to call victims”.
“This is a matter for a courtroom, and I believe he is in terrible breach doing that,” he said.
The radio host and former Wallabies coach was arrested as police searched his multimillion-dollar apartment on Monday, where officers seized electronic devices.
Detective Superintendent Linda Howlett later said Jones was “quite calm” when officers searched the sixth floor unit.
“Nothing has been tested. Nothing has been proven. Alan Jones will assert his innocence appropriately in the courtroom,” Mr Murphy said.
Jones will front the Downing Centre Local Court on Wednesday, December 18.
He has surrendered his passport as a condition of bail. Jones has also been ordered not to “stalk, harass or intimidate any prosecution witness or complainant” or to identify any of the alleged victims to anyone except his lawyers.
The Australian Financial Review reports Jones had been scheduled to travel to the US in the coming days on a long-planned trip.
The AFR also reports Jones needs nearly constant care after four back operations in the past year.
The 83-year-old hosted his ratings-dominating breakfast show on 2GB for two decades, retired from the station in May 2020 for health reasons.
He then hosted The Alan Jones Program on Sky News Australia, but left the network in November 2021.
He MC’d an event for a Senator in July, and earlier this month took part in an Australians for Constitutional Monarchy panel discussion.
“Whatever you might think of Donald Trump, one thing is clear from the American election,” Jones said at the panel event.
“The legacy media and celebrities have no cut through whatsoever with the ordinary person out there. And that’s the case here.”