Travis Ainsley Muller, 40, put a jacket over his head before leaving the ACT Magistrates Court. Photo: Albert McKnight.
CONTENT WARNING: This article refers to alleged child abuse.
A man accused of sexually abusing two children has been granted bail as long as he leaves Canberra and lives under house arrest at his parents’ acreage on the NSW Far South Coast.
Travis Ainsley Muller, a 40-year-old from Mawson, was photographed hiding his head under a jacket when he left the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday (13 March), before one of his supporters grabbed and shook the arm of this reporter while telling them to “F–k off”.
It is alleged Mr Muller groomed and sexually or indecently assaulted two children, including one who was four years old, in Canberra between 2019 and 2020.
ACT Policing began an investigation after being told of the allegations earlier this year.
On Friday, Mr Muller faced the ACT Magistrates Court, where he was charged with two counts each of sexual intercourse with a young person, grooming and committing an act of indecency on a child.
Prosecutor Sam McLaughlin said the children alleged some offending took place when their father walked to a shopping centre.
He said it was alleged Mr Muller took that limited opportunity to offend against one, if not both, of the children.
Mr Muller applied for bail, which Mr McLaughlin opposed, and his lawyer, Sarah Higgs of Hugo Law Group, proposed he live under house arrest at his now-retired parents’ rural property in the Bega Valley, where they had no internet connection.
“These allegations before the court, while serious, they are historical,” she said.
Ms Higgs also said the allegations appeared to be “second-hand hearsay”, as she understood they had been reported to the children’s parents.
But Mr McLaughlin argued there was compelling complaint evidence in the matter and the children had made significant disclosures.
Magistrate Jane Campbell said the allegations were “quite disturbing”, but Mr Muller was entitled to the presumption of innocence at this stage.
She also said it seemed that, on the allegations, he had access to the children when no-one else was present.
Magistrate Campbell said the main risk of releasing him was whether he could access children, but his parents lived on an acreage property and no child went to the house.
She granted bail on a long list of conditions, including he live at his parents’ home, only leave if he is in the company of one of them and not use the internet. He is also not allowed to be near anyone under 18 unless with one of his parents.
Mr Muller, who receives Centrelink benefits while also working by editing social media posts and YouTube videos, has entered not guilty pleas to his six charges.
He will return to court on 26 May.
If this story has raised any concerns for you, 1800RESPECT, the national 24-hour sexual assault, family and domestic violence counselling line, can be contacted on 1800 737 732. Help and support are also available through the Canberra Rape Crisis Centre on (02) 6247 2525, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service ACT on (02) 6280 0900, the Sexual Violence Legal Services on 6257 4377 and Lifeline on 13 11 14. In an emergency, call triple zero.
If you have been affected by sexual violence, or someone you know has, you can report it to law enforcement by attending a police station or phoning 131 444.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
