Animal-cruelty charges have been dropped against a former Moorestown, N.J., officer accused of performing sex acts with cows because bestiality is not a crime in the state.
Judge James Morley ruled in Superior Court Wednesday that prosecutors did not present enough evidence to jurors that Robert Melia Jr.'s alleged sex acts tormented the animals on a Southampton farm. Melia was facing four charges of cruelty to animals, which is a felony punishable by up to five years in prison and a $15,000 fine.
However, Melia still faces charges of molesting three girls between 2000 and 2008 at his home.
Melia's former girlfriend, Heather Lewis, 33, faces similar charges involving the girls and also a boy.
Police raided Melia's home in April 2008 and confiscated alleged pornographic material and Melia's computer. Both defendants were arrested April 12 and later indicted by a Burlington County grand jury.
During the investigation, police say they found a video in the man's home that showed him sexually molesting cows in 2006.
Moorestown Police Director Harry Johnson suspended Melia on April 12, immediately following his arrest
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