A police officer who admitted sexually assaulting a nine-year-old girl when he was a teenager has not been fired by Victoria Police.
Conor McCurley, 26, appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he took responsibility for the offense against the child before donning the badge.
Daily Mail Australia can reveal McCurley is still employed by Victoria Police, albeit suspended without pay.
Police officer Conor McCurley was forced to publicly apologize to a woman he sexually offended as a child
A Victoria Police spokesperson declined to answer further questions about McCurley’s future with the force.
“At this stage the 26-year-old is currently suspended without pay… there is nothing further to add,” the statement read.
McCurley was charged with 17 offences, including numerous counts of committing indecent acts with or in the presence of a child under the age of 16 and one count of ‘sexual penetration’.
The officer avoided conviction after agreeing to admit to his vile offenses as part of a plea deal with prosecutors that allowed him to be sentenced under the court’s diversion program.
Under Victorian law, diversion plans are often passed on to first-time offenders and are designed not to impact a person’s life in the future.
Under the diversion plan, McCurley was not required to formally plead to the charges, but instead simply admitted to committing the crimes charged.
Although he has not been convicted of a crime, Victoria Police has a history of firing officers who have been acquitted of serious charges.
Former detective Murray Gentner was sacked despite being acquitted over a scandal surrounding the release of Dani Laidley’s photo in custody.
Controversial former drug detective Paul Dale was also shown the door, despite never having been convicted of a crime.
McCurley’s return to rhythm remains highly unlikely given the facts of his case.
Mr. McCurley avoided a conviction and received a diversionary sentence. Photo: NCA Newswire / Nicki Connolly
His sordid story made national headlines in September when it was revealed he was about to marry his partner Kim Trajcevski.
McCurley was charged on August 16 following an internal police investigation by Victoria Police’s Sexual Crimes and Family Violence Unit.
The news came just weeks before he was due to marry his fiancée of two years at the picturesque Acacia Ridge Winery in Yarra Valley, which costs $13,800 to rent for the venue alone.
The couple’s wedding countdown website showed a timeline of their love story, detailing how they met in May 2020, bought a piece of land together to build their first home in January 2021 and got engaged in May of that year.
Mrs Trajcevski – now McCurley – represented her husband during the legal proceedings.
Last week, inside In an emotionally impactful statement to the court, his victim, now in her early 20s, said her entire life changed as a result of McCurley’s actions.
“I had to keep the disgusting secret,” she said.
“I started to feel like I was the problem… I felt like I was losing control of my life.”
Kim McCurley (left) stood by her husband during his court appearances
The court was told the woman confronted McCurley years after the abuse ended, with the First Constable complaining he had been ‘painted in a terrible light’.
“It was the fault of a young, ignorant boy,” he responded via text message.
But the woman told the court what he described as a “mistake that left me feeling like it had cost me most of my life.”
“I have been called vindictive and spiteful for seeking justice,” she said, her voice breaking.
“You take away a young man’s dream, they say, but I still feel like my childhood has been taken away.”
The court was told McCurley had been suspended from Victoria Police without pay after internal investigators charged him just weeks before his wedding.
The sexual offense occurred when McCurley was a teenager and before he joined Victoria Police.
The case was initially set for a hearing to determine whether McCurley should go to trial after defense attorney Caroline Salter said last year he denied the allegations.
But on Tuesday, prosecutor Matthew Fisher declared the case “had been resolved.”
He told the court that both the prosecution and defense agreed the case was suitable for diversion.
“On the face of it, someone in the public might say it’s outrageous that it’s being handled in this way,” he said.
“But we say there are powerful factors at play in reaching this position.”
Mr Fisher said both the woman and a senior prosecutor agreed diversion was the right course of action.
After hearing from both sides, Magistrate Malcolm Thomas agreed, saying that despite the serious offences, he believed it was ‘appropriate to grant diversion’.
“In my opinion, this allows the complainant’s voice to be heard, gives her agency and forces McCurley to publicly acknowledge his actions,” he said.
Mr Thomas said a “powerful factor” in his decision was the woman’s support for distraction and for her to avoid the “deeply traumatic” experience of giving evidence at the trial.
“It is an unfortunate feature of the system that requires complainants to describe in detail… often the most painful memories of their lives,” he said.
As part of the distraction, McCauley was required to publicly apologize, pay $7,500 in compensation, donate $2,500 to a charity of his choice and be of good behavior for a year.
Standing on the witness stand Tuesday afternoon, McCurley kept his head down as he said he was “deeply sorry.”
“I know what I did has caused irreparable damage,” he said.
“I want you to know that I fully acknowledge my behavior and how it made you feel.”
Thomas demanded McCurley appear in court and described his behavior towards the woman as ‘absolutely disgusting’.
“You must feel a great sense of shame for the things you have done and you must bear that shame.”