A suspended Moorestown police officer who is accused of molesting three young girls pleaded not guilty yesterday in Superior Court in Burlington County.
Robert Melia Jr., 38, also pleaded not guilty to official misconduct, as well as to animal cruelty. In addition to the molestation charges, Melia is accused of performing sex acts on cows in Southampton.
The Burlington County Prosecutor's Office began investigating Melia after one of the girls reported an assault to her relative. She later told authorities she had been assaulted repeatedly inside Melia's Moorestown home.
Melia was arrested in April, along with his girlfriend, Heather Lewis, who is charged separately with sexually assaulting a juvenile male.
Melia, who was a patrolman, has been free on $410,000 bail since June.
If convicted, Melia and Lewis could spend the rest of their lives in prison, authorities said.
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