JERSEY SEX OFFENDER STEVEN FACCHINO SENTENCED FOR GROOMING AND CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
| Red Rose Database
Jersey Child Sexual Abuser
In October 2018, Steven Facchino, a known sex offender from Jersey, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after engaging in disturbing online communications with a person he believed to be a 13-year-old boy. The individual he was messaging was actually a local mother, Cheyenne O’Connor, who was posing as a young teenager and also known for her efforts as a self-styled paedophile hunter.
Facchino, who had previously been convicted of viewing indecent images of children, admitted to sending explicit messages while under the influence of alcohol. His conversations on the gay dating app Grindr included discussions about sexual activities and explicit content. During these exchanges, he acknowledged the young age of his interlocutor, making comments such as, “surely u must realise they/me would be very cautious as could cause serious issues if found out.”
As the communication progressed, Facchino expressed a desire to meet the supposed teenager, mentioning plans to meet at the La Collette flats. He voiced concerns about being caught, stating, “Some pope are out to get people like me who like guys your age and stuff would like people like me locked up even tho I won’t hurt a fly.”
Police officers intervened when Facchino arrived at the meeting location, appearing “furtive” according to one officer. He was arrested on the spot, visibly upset during his detention, and his phone was confiscated. The arrest was based on evidence gathered from the messaging exchanges and his suspicious behaviour at the scene.
It was revealed that this was not Facchino’s first offence. Previously, he had received a six-month suspended sentence for viewing indecent images of children. Despite denying any ongoing interest in young boys, psychological assessments indicated he was at high risk of reoffending. The court heard that his fixation with minors had escalated from passive consumption of images to actively attempting to contact a child.
During the court proceedings, Crown Advocate Richard Pedley described Facchino as an untreated offender whose recent actions marked a disturbing development. He emphasized that the fact Facchino had been drinking was no justification for his behaviour. The prosecution sought a two-year prison sentence, highlighting the seriousness of his predatory conduct.
Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq QC, along with Jurats Rozanne Thomas and Collette Crill, acknowledged that no child was directly harmed during the incident but stressed that the offence was still grave. He pointed out that Facchino had previously failed to address his offending and warned of the potential risks involved.
As part of his sentence, Facchino was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and was subject to a ten-year restraining order that prohibited him from accessing children online or in person. The court emphasized the predatory nature of his actions, describing his behaviour as highly concerning and indicative of a serious threat to public safety.
In a separate case from April 2008, Facchino, then aged 22, narrowly avoided jail after admitting to downloading thousands of indecent and abusive images of children aged between ten and 18. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for six months, and also received a six-month suspended sentence for publishing an obscene story related to child abuse on the internet. The court noted that police had damaged his hard drives during the investigation, resulting in the loss of all physical evidence of the images, leaving only Facchino’s own confession as proof of his actions.
Facchino, who had previously been convicted of viewing indecent images of children, admitted to sending explicit messages while under the influence of alcohol. His conversations on the gay dating app Grindr included discussions about sexual activities and explicit content. During these exchanges, he acknowledged the young age of his interlocutor, making comments such as, “surely u must realise they/me would be very cautious as could cause serious issues if found out.”
As the communication progressed, Facchino expressed a desire to meet the supposed teenager, mentioning plans to meet at the La Collette flats. He voiced concerns about being caught, stating, “Some pope are out to get people like me who like guys your age and stuff would like people like me locked up even tho I won’t hurt a fly.”
Police officers intervened when Facchino arrived at the meeting location, appearing “furtive” according to one officer. He was arrested on the spot, visibly upset during his detention, and his phone was confiscated. The arrest was based on evidence gathered from the messaging exchanges and his suspicious behaviour at the scene.
It was revealed that this was not Facchino’s first offence. Previously, he had received a six-month suspended sentence for viewing indecent images of children. Despite denying any ongoing interest in young boys, psychological assessments indicated he was at high risk of reoffending. The court heard that his fixation with minors had escalated from passive consumption of images to actively attempting to contact a child.
During the court proceedings, Crown Advocate Richard Pedley described Facchino as an untreated offender whose recent actions marked a disturbing development. He emphasized that the fact Facchino had been drinking was no justification for his behaviour. The prosecution sought a two-year prison sentence, highlighting the seriousness of his predatory conduct.
Deputy Bailiff Tim Le Cocq QC, along with Jurats Rozanne Thomas and Collette Crill, acknowledged that no child was directly harmed during the incident but stressed that the offence was still grave. He pointed out that Facchino had previously failed to address his offending and warned of the potential risks involved.
As part of his sentence, Facchino was ordered to remain on the Sex Offenders’ Register for five years and was subject to a ten-year restraining order that prohibited him from accessing children online or in person. The court emphasized the predatory nature of his actions, describing his behaviour as highly concerning and indicative of a serious threat to public safety.
In a separate case from April 2008, Facchino, then aged 22, narrowly avoided jail after admitting to downloading thousands of indecent and abusive images of children aged between ten and 18. He was sentenced to six months in prison, suspended for six months, and also received a six-month suspended sentence for publishing an obscene story related to child abuse on the internet. The court noted that police had damaged his hard drives during the investigation, resulting in the loss of all physical evidence of the images, leaving only Facchino’s own confession as proof of his actions.