A US judge has granted Australian military adviser Dr Adam Cobb $US1 million ($A1.30 million) bail, despite prosecutors warning he has a predatory tendency to troll for girls online and is a danger to the community.
Cobb was an esteemed military adviser to the Australian government, Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove and US Special Operations Command in Tampa, Florida.
His latest role was as a professor and director at the US Naval War College in Rhode Island.
But, on April 2 in Rhode Island authorities arrested the 46-year-old on one count of receipt of child pornography and one count of distribution of child pornography.
He is accused of persuading a 17-year-old British girl to fly to the US without her parents' knowledge and taping sex he had with her in Florida.
Prosecutors said Cobb could also face production of child pornography charges which carry a mandatory minimum 15 years' jail.
Cobb is also accused of persuading a 16-year-old US girl to send him pornographic photos of herself, then distributing the images via text messages and appearing to brag "about his conquest".
Cobb was refused bail in the days following his arrest.
However, Federal Magistrate Judge Patricia Sullivan, in the US District Court in Providence on Tuesday, granted Cobb bail.
The court was told Cobb owns properties in Florida, Virginia, Alabama and Rhode Island.
The Florida and Virginia homes will be posted as the full surety bond.
Judge Sullivan also ordered Cobb to home confinement with GPS monitoring and to have no contact with anyone under 18.
He can only use the internet for employment purposes.
Prosecutors say Cobb has a strong motive to flee before his trial.
