AN ARMIDALE piercer accused of sexually abusing three teenage girls and a woman has had his case pushed back to the new year.
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James David McKenzie will spend Christmas behind bars and is due to return to court in mid-January, after being refused bail in Armidale Local Court.
In a mention of the case, magistrate Michael Holmes was told McKenzie's case was progressing.
Prosecutors have served the brief of evidence, and the case has been adjourned for almost two months while DPP solicitors finalise their case and confirm the charges they will proceed with.
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McKenzie faces a total of 19 charges after investigations by the Tamworth office of the Child Abuse Squad and Armidale detectives. He is yet to enter pleas.
Detectives allege he abused girls aged 15, 16, 17, and also a 21-year-old woman. He's been in custody since his arrest during a raid in May in Armidale.
Police allege McKenzie indecently abused the 21-year-old at an Armidale home in October last year.
The allegations are in addition to charges that he allegedly sexually assaulted the two older teens between June and July 2018.
He first came to the attention of the child abuse team earlier this year, and was charged in March with attacking a 15-year-old girl he met on social media.
Detectives allege McKenzie offered her money and drugs for sexual intercourse.
McKenzie faces 10 counts of assault with an act of indecency; three counts of aggravated sex assault of a victim under the age of 16; two charges of aggravated sexual assault and depriving liberty; intentionally sexually touching a child under 16; producing child abuse material; procuring a child for unlawful sexual activity; and performing body piercing on the nipples of a child.
After his arrest in May, officers raided McKenzie's Armidale home and seized several goods, including drug paraphernalia and electronic storage devices.