A Westmoreland County judge on Monday rejected a bond request from a Connellsville man awaiting trial on charges of raping a 12-year-old girl in 2013.
Prosecutors say the girl gave birth to the man’s child nine months later.
Shawn Melville, 42, was charged last year with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault, child endangerment and corruption of minors based on allegations made by a now 18-year-old woman who claims she was molested as a pre-teen while living in Derry Borough.
Melville, according to court records, was released from custody after posting $10,000 bond following his arrest last April but was jailed in October after he failed to appear in court for an arraignment hearing. Melville on Monday asked Feliciani to reinstate his bond, claiming a misunderstanding caused him to miss his court hearing.
Assistant District Attorney Judy Petrush objected, saying Melville was a danger to the community and should remain behind bars as he awaits his trial.
The judge said the original bond set last year by a district judge was too low and ordered Melville post a $100,000 straight cash bond before he is freed from jail to await his trial.
According to court records, police were first alerted to a potential rape in 2014, but the alleged victim and her mother refused to cooperate with the investigation. The prosecution renewed the probe in March 2018 after the alleged victim’s biological father confirmed his daughter had given birth to Melville’s child.
The alleged victim told investigators that as a 12-year-old Melville drugged and raped her at least ten times in 2013. Prosecutors said DNA test results indicated it was 99.9% likely that Melville was the father to the alleged victim’s now 6-year-old child.
Defense attorney Chris Huffman questioned the DNA results.
“The DNA was not challenged and could be invalid. He is presumed to be innocent,” Huffman said.
Petrush said Melville is a predator who took advantage of a child he believed was an easy target because she had previously been molested by another man who has since been convicted and jailed for those offenses.
“He knew she was a vulnerable person,” Petrush said.
