MOUNT HOLLY - New charges of sex acts with cows have been brought against a Moorestown policeman who last week was charged with sexually assaulting
three girls.

Officer Robert Melia Jr., 38, of Moorestown, remained in Burlington County Jail on Tuesday with bail of $510,000.

Superior Court Judge John Almeida raised Melia's bail $10,000 as a result of the addition of four charges of cruelty to animals, which is a felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a $15,000 fine.

Kevin Morgan, an assistant county prosecutor, said in court Tuesday that the cruelty charges involve sex acts with cows between June and December 2006
at an undisclosed location in Southampton.

Melia and his former girlfriend are charged with three counts of aggravated sexual assault and one count of criminal sexual contact on three girls at his home between 2003 and 2006. The ex-girlfriend, Heather Lewis, 32, of the 200 block of Stocktons Bridge Road, Pemberton Township, remains in jail on $300,000 bail.