A South Coast man has been charged with child grooming following an online sting operation that began in September last year.
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Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Squad's Child Exploitation Internet Unit began interacting online with the man, in the South Coast town of Moruya.
Police allege the man believed he was speaking with a 14-year-old girl and engaged in sexually explicit conversations about acts he wished to perform on the child.
The 49-year-old man also allegedly sent sexually explicit material.
On Wednesday morning, detectives from the unit and Strike Force Trawler arrested the man at a house in Moruya.
The home was searched and police allegedly uncovered a rifle, ammunition, mobile phone and laptop.
The man was taken to Batemans Bay Police Station and charged with using a carriage service to groom a child under 16 years for sex, possessing an unregistered firearm and other weapons offences.
He was refused bail to appear at Wollongong Local Court via audiovisual link on Thursday.
Anyone with concerns about the suspected abuse or exploitation of children should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page: https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.