Former Radio Host and Charity Founder Admits to Assaulting Vulnerable Teenagers
Cody Haywood Schaeffer, a 32-year-old former radio presenter who founded the youth mental health charity Borderline Australia, has pleaded guilty to assaulting vulnerable teenage boys in a disturbing scheme that involved whipping them for cash payments. Schaeffer, who once used the nickname 'Colonel Cody', admitted to the assaults at Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
Disturbing Details of the Assaults
The court heard that Schaeffer assaulted four male youths aged between 14 and 18 years old in incidents occurring between July 2021 and October 2023. The assaults took place at properties in Cleveland and Alexandra Hills, located west of Brisbane. According to police prosecutor Kacie Atkinson, Schaeffer paid the teenagers to whip their feet with a clothes hanger while their hands and feet were bound during these incidents.
In one particularly disturbing instance, Schaeffer went as far as wrapping duct tape around one boy's eyes and mouth. Despite pleading guilty to these assaults, the Grafton man received a nine-month jail sentence that was wholly suspended for 18 months.
Charity Connection and Additional Revelations
Schaeffer met the victims through his youth mental health charity Borderline Australia, which operated holiday camps along the Queensland-New South Wales border designed to support teenagers with mental health problems. The charity's camps, which were free for teens to attend and featured celebrity guests, claimed to provide "impactful programs that educate, support and change lives in truly relatable, entertaining and unique ways."
Police prosecutor Atkinson clarified that the offending was not alleged to be sexual in nature but rather constituted a "form of cruel and unusual punishment." However, additional revelations have emerged showing Schaeffer attempted to recruit a young man to be filmed getting tickled for a cash fee, with Schaeffer suggesting the footage would be used for an advertisement on an Asian dating website.
In text messages seen by investigators, Schaeffer asked the man if he would be open to having his feet kissed and licked, offering a higher fee if he participated in a "tickle torture session" while partially clothed, blindfolded, and gagged. Schaeffer also appeared to encourage other men to join this scheme, offering advice to act confident and pretend to squirm for the cameras. When the man expressed discomfort, Schaeffer questioned their friendship and accused him of not being trustworthy.
Charity Aftermath and Social Media Presence
Following news of the charges, Schaeffer's charity registration was voluntarily revoked in September 2024, and its social media profiles were shut down. However, a merchandise site remains operational where children can still purchase hoodies, t-shirts, tote bags, and gym towels promoting mental health awareness. Among the items available is a t-shirt depicting Schaeffer as KFC's Colonel Sanders, with the "BYC Colonel Cody" shirt remaining available for purchase in more than 50 colors for $35.45.
Schaeffer had received numerous awards for his work in youth mental health, including an Order of Australia Medal in 2023. Before founding his charity, he worked as a radio presenter on B105 and KIIS 97.3, with his social media profiles featuring pictures of him interviewing celebrities including Andy Lee, Hamish Blake, Brisbane Broncos players, and members of Five Seconds of Summer.
Schaeffer's Defense and Court Sentencing
When the charges first became public in October, Schaeffer described the accusations as "stupid actions that I took in my 20s that I saw as jovial, funny or mucking around with mates." This defense continued through to his sentencing hearing, where he told the court his actions were "absolutely wrong" and admitted, "I've been a horrible role model, and immaturity does not excuse it. I've got to own it and I've got to take responsibility."
Magistrate Zachary Sarra described the targeted children as "quite vulnerable" and noted that Schaeffer had met them in a workplace context before violating them in his private residence. "It shows a level of calculation and cunning – and all on the pretext that these kids aren't going to say anything," Mr. Sarra stated. "He's their role model. He's the person who these children invested their trust, and he took advantage of their trust."
Remarkably, Schaeffer appeared to still be posting on his social media profiles just hours before receiving his sentence. In his last public Facebook post from May, he had filmed a video with friends and commented, "People who stick by you, even when you can barely stand by yourself, are truly ones to hold close for the rest of your life, however long that may be."
