A former sports assistant at Marymede Catholic College has admitted to 25 child sex offenses, including the sexual penetration of a minor, but will be permitted to reside in the coastal town of Portarlington. Andrew Cassar, 24, was arrested earlier this year on the grounds of the Melbourne school.
Cassar initially faced 42 charges. On Friday, he pleaded guilty to 25 offenses in Melbourne Magistrates' Court, with 17 charges being withdrawn. Details of the full extent of the allegations were not made public as the court ruled the matter would be handled as rolled-up charges at a County Court pre-sentence hearing scheduled for February. Rolled-up charges combine multiple alleged offenses into a single charge for sentencing purposes, a process often used during guilty pleas.
Cassar's legal team opposed the release of the charge sheets, arguing that publicizing all of them at this stage could be misleading because only some would ultimately proceed as part of a plea deal. Magistrate Leon Fluxman supported this view, stating that reporting all charges as a true reflection of what would proceed would not be accurate under the circumstances.
As part of his bail conditions, Cassar is forbidden from entering the Marymede campus, where he was accused of violating a child on March 9. He is also banned from contacting the victim. Cassar has a bail address in Mill Park but is permitted to live in Portarlington, a popular tourist destination on the Bellarine Peninsula.
The arrest of Cassar, who was taken into custody by detectives from Victoria Police's Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team on March 10, caused concern within the school community. The college's principal, Timothy Newcomb, informed parents via letter that Cassar had been arrested and directed not to return to the campus. Newcomb emphasized that no students were present during the arrest, which occurred on a professional learning day, and assured parents that student safety was a priority.
Cassar's Working with Children Check is expected to be revoked once the legal proceedings are finalized. He appeared in court wearing a hoodie and puffer jacket, accompanied by his parents. His alleged offenses have led to the suppression of details that might have been available to the public and the school community.