A man will face court today charged with allegedly indecently assaulting a boy in Ballina last month.

On Wednesday 11 February 2026, officers attached to Richmond Police District received a report a 12-year-old boy was walking along Ferngrove Public Reserve walking path, along the North Creek canal in Ballina about 7pm, when he was allegedly approached by a man, not known to him, and indecently touched. 

The boy ran away and the matter was later reported to Police.

Detectives attached to State Crime Command’s Child Abuse Squad commenced an investigation.

Following inquiries, about 9.15am on Tuesday 24 February 2026, detectives arrested a 69-year-old man in Ballina.

He was taken to Ballina Police Station and charged with intentionally sexually touch child between 10 and 16 years.

The man appeared at Bail Local Court - Division 1 on Wednesday 25 February 2026, where he was granted conditional bail to appear at Ballina Local Court today (Thursday 5 March 2026).

Anyone who may have been in the area with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is managed on a confidential basis. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.