![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1122\/2020\/11\/melody.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
According to The Age<\/em><\/a> Steven Mellody, above, a teacher at a \u201cstrict\u201d Christian college\u00a0in Wantirna South, was granted bail on November 18 by Melbourne magistrate Luisa Bazzani, who ordered that the school not be identified.<\/p>\n Mellody is a former Salvation Army youth pastor.<\/p>\n The family of one of two alleged victims told police they opposed bail, and were so concerned about the influence the former teacher has over their daughter that they would be forced move to Asia.<\/p>\n Bazzani said it was \u201cvery difficult\u201d to decide whether or not to grant bail, and warned Mellody that if he contacted either of the alleged victims it would be revoked. She said:<\/p>\n You are before the court in relation to 59 separate offences. Some of the worst imaginable offences against children are alleged against you.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Bazzani said she was particularly concerned about the vulnerability of the alleged victims given at least one of the children, according to police, has blamed herself for the charges brought against Mellody.<\/p>\n It is rare to see this number of charges and such serious charges levelled against the one individual. I\u2019m really worried about [Mellody] making contact with these children.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The alleged offending against one of the children lasted over a period of 18 months, according to police.<\/p>\n In the end Bazzani granted Mellody bail because he had no prior criminal history and because his family had promised the court they would support and supervise him.<\/p>\n He can only use the Internet while supervised and is not allowed to be in a room alone with a child under 18.<\/p>\n In a November 6 letter sent out by the school to parents and obtained by The Sunday Age<\/em>, the school said they were so \u201cdeeply shocked and appalled\u201d by the allegations, that they had sacked Mellody and intended to conduct their own internal investigation after police had completed theirs.<\/p>\n The letter also said they had extended counselling services to students and will review their child safety policies.<\/p>\n Police allege he persuaded one girl to sneak out of her parent\u2019s home at night and would regularly take her to the college, where she studied and he had worked as a sport coordinator for the past seven years.<\/p>\n He faces 23 charges of sexual penetration with a child under 16, 16 of conduct contrary to community standards, eight of sexual assault against a child, six of sexual penetration of a child under his care, four of rape and two of grooming.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/wp-media.patheos.com\/blogs\/sites\/1122\/2020\/11\/shawn-fitzgerald-1.jpg\")