Gregory Melin. PC: Fox 11 Online
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — A former middle school teacher was convicted of taking inappropriate photos of students was convicted Monday, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail.
Gregory Melin, 37, pleaded no contest to two counts of attempting to capture an inappropriate intimate representation of a minor, and two counts of invasion of privacy. Several other counts were dismissed.
If all of the conditions of a deferred prosecution agreement are followed for three years, the felony counts would be dismissed. He was placed on probation for two years after that. Those conditions include counseling, surrendering his teaching license, and not holding any job or volunteer position where minors are present.
Judge Jerilyn Dietz said the prison term available would be shorter than the term of this agreement, but wouldn’t allow for the same amount of treatment needed to prevent this from happening again. Although the defense prosecutors did not request any jail time, Dietz said it was necessary, and ordered 30 days in jail.
The mother of one of the victims said she hopes Melin gets the help he needs, but her daughter feels betrayed by Melin, and has a difficult time trusting people as a result.
Melin apologized, saying he had “many regrets and great remorse” for his actions. He noted he has already been getting counseling.
Many of the classroom photos were of private areas of girls’ bodies and appeared to have been taken beneath desks and tables. The girls were clothed.
Melin provided the girls’ names, and Manitowoc police interviewed them. Some of the victims recalled seeing Melin use his phone during class, and one suspected he may have been taking photos. None of the girls consented to having photos taken.
Police say Melin admitted he began taking photos of students in November 2021 and continued through the end of that school year.
Melin was a teacher at Roncalli Middle School in Manitowoc.
Melin was previously sentenced to 90 days in jail after being convicted of disorderly conduct in Sheboygan County.
In that case, prosecutors say two teens, ages 14 and 15, confronted Melin after he took a photo of them on a beach. Melin tried to delete the photos, but the 15-year-old grabbed the phone from his hands and began scrolling through other photos he took. Another group of teens ranging from 16 to 18 years old also called 911 after Melin allegedly took photos of them.
During an interview, authorities say Melin admitted taking photos of girls in bikinis and said he sexually gratifies himself with similar photos. He allowed police to search his phone, and they say they found the photos from the beach, as well as photos that appeared to have been taken in a classroom setting.
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