Barry Wayne Lawrence: Child protection worker charged with sexually assaulting a boy to remain on bail

A Department of Communities employee accused of sexually assaulting a boy won’t have to plead to the allegations until February next year. Barry Wayne Lawrence, 38, was charged with two counts of indecently dealing with a child following an investigation by sex assault squad detectives. He is also facing two counts of using electronic communication with intent to expose a child under 16 to indecent matter. Appearing in the Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday, Mr Lawrence’s lawyer told the court an application to vary his bail conditions would be made on October 30. The court was told Mr Lawrence would attend a committal mention charges on February 11. During a previous bail application, according to documents obtained by The West Australian, the police prosecutor said the alleged victim was fearful Mr Lawrence would try to contact him and that he had “OMCG (outlaw motorcycle gang) connections”, though noted there was no information to validate that claim. Mr Lawrence walked himself out of the courthouse on Wednesday after supporters previously stood by his side, lashing out at waiting media. He did not respond to questions by The West Australian. It was previously revealed the latest indecent dealing allegation involved claims he touched the groin of a boy in Pinjarra. On another occasion, it is alleged he indecently assaulted the same boy in a car park in Falcon between 2021 and 2022 while employed as a senior officer for the Department of Communities. “He turned off the engine, and unbuckled the boy’s seatbelt, and again, tried to place his hand on the buttocks,” the police prosecutor said. “That’s the allegation. And the boy felt uncomfortable, tapped the accused on the back, pushed him away. (It) didn’t go – there’s no further allegation, that was as far as it went, before driving off, and taking the boy to McDonald’s.” It is also alleged he sent the then 14-year-old boy two photographs showing “some sexual connection” between himself and his wife in 2022. His bail was extended on Wednesday, with a magistrate previously granting Mr Lawrence bail on strict conditions, ordering he no longer work with children. He was also ordered to not have unsupervised access to anybody under the age of 16.