An ex-Scots College schoolboy has finally pleaded guilty to child sex abuse, bestiality and animal crush material charges after a judge’s stinging rebuke over the case’s incessant delays.
Ethan Ungerboeck pleaded guilty late on Monday to five charges after doing a deal with prosecutors who agreed to dismiss 10 of a total of 17 counts, most of which involved child abuse material.
The 21-year-old, who sat twitching his fingers throughout a hearing at the Sydney Downing Centre, was nevertheless allowed to remain on bail and will go home to his $6million family home to await sentencing.
The onetime favourite son, adored by his wealthy parents for his prowess as a talented skier and champion swimmer, spent his first night as a convicted sex criminal in their five-bedroom, four-bathroom mansion.
He pleaded guilty to possessing child abuse data, using a carriage service to transmit child abuse material, possessing child abuse material on a USB, possessing bestiality material, and possessing animal crush material.
A further two charges – relating to transmitting offensive material and using child abuse material – which did not result in a conviction, will be considered at Ungerboeck’s sentencing next month. Ten charges were withdrawn.
The pleas came after a deal was done with prosecutors following Judge Susan Horan’s criticism of lengthy delays in the case.
Her Honour challenged Ungerboeck’s high-profile solicitor Michael Bowe as he sought his client’s tenth delay in court.
The wealthy parents of former Scots College student Ethan Ungerboeck (pictured) once praised his sporting achievements, but now, at 21, he has faced multiple court appearances over child abuse and bestiality material charges
Ethan Ungerboeck (pictured as a child with his sister) used to go into his parents’ advertising firm in his Scots College uniform
Ungerboeck’s original 17 counts involved the alleged production, distribution and possession of child abuse, bestiality, animal torture, and related material using platforms such as Telegram.
Veteran criminal lawyer Mr Bowe’s latest request on Monday for yet another adjournment before Judge Horan was met with open disbelief by Her Honour.
Mr Bowe asked for another week’s delay, telling the court the multiple charges ‘break down into many, many, many charges,’ and that the defence had spent 40 hours analysing, discarding some, and preparing an amended fact sheet.
Judge Horan replied: ‘This has been going for committal… since February.’
When Mr Bowe insisted the defence ‘haven’t been sitting on our hands,’ she responded: ‘Ten committal hearings is ten too many.’
Since first appearing on these charges, Ungerboeck has celebrated his 21st birthday, sought repeated adjournments across multiple courts for what he calls a ‘complex’ case, and attended court on crutches during one of his many appearances.
Back in February, self-confessed pot smoker Ungerboeck was not convicted of alleged assaults on a 16-year-old girl whom he repeatedly bit on the neck and burnt with a lit cigarette.
Citing poor mental health and cannabis use, he had three counts of assault occasioning bodily harm and one count of common assault dismissed.
Ungerboeck, accused of child and other sex abuse material offences, is pictured with lawyer Michael Bowe during one of his court appearances. A judge noted the case has now exceeded ten committal hearings
The self-confessed heavy pot smoker had been charged with the production, distribution and possession of child abuse, bestiality, animal torture and related material on platforms like Telegram
Ungerboeck also previously admitted to threatening to kill and mutilate another girlfriend if she cheated.
In the earlier case, he pleaded guilty to stalking and intimidating a woman with violent texts, threatening to ‘crush her spine’, dissect her feet and suspend her from hooks.
Ungerboeck was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age eight and was bullied as a student at Sydney’s $54,000-a-year Scots College.
A court heard earlier this year Ungerboeck had not been taking his prescribed medication and was using cannabis heavily.
As well as ADHD, he had been diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), and depression.
While on bail, he has been living at the luxury Maroubra home of his wealthy parents; his father is a former chief operating officer (COO) of Mobile Messenger.
The Mail understands the Ungerboecks often praised their son’s sporting abilities, even boasting that he had taken tap dancing lessons.
Ungerboeck was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at age eight and bullied at Sydney’s $54,000-a-year Scots College
While on bail, he is not allowed to drink alcohol, take drugs or use gaming platforms and police can enter his family home and check his devices to ensure he is compliant
Ungerboeck appeared on crutches at one of his many court hearings
Scots College is pictured
Ungerboeck was bailed to his parents’ $6million Maroubra mansion (pictured)
Ethan Ungerboeck was arrested in December 2024 and subsequently charged with one count of possessing or controlling child abuse material using a carriage service, three counts of possessing child abuse material using a carriage service, and three counts of producing child abuse material with intent to transmit using a carriage service.
He was also charged with four counts of using a carriage service for child abuse material, one count of using a carriage service to cause offence, two counts of possessing bestiality material, and three counts of possessing ‘animal crush’ material.
According to his bail conditions, Ungerboeck is banned from leaving his parents’ mansion unless accompanied by one of them.
He is required to present at the front door when police arrive for curfew checks or drug and alcohol screening, up to once a day, seven days a week.
He is also prohibited from consuming alcohol, taking drugs, or using gaming platforms. Police may enter his family home and check his devices to ensure compliance.
He is further banned from being in the company of anyone under 18 without adult supervision.
Ethan Ungerboeck will be sentenced on October 26.
