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Lake City nurse accused of molesting child patient was under investigation in 2018, documents show

COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake City pediatric nurse practitioner accused of molesting a child during a physical exam had an emergency suspension placed on his license.

The Florida Department of Health issued the emergency suspension Tuesday.

Matthew Melvin, 41, worked at Magnolia Pediatrics.

In May, Action News Jax told you when Melvin was arrested.

He remains behind bars on two charges of transmission of material harmful to minors and soliciting a minor, or person believed to be a minor, for sex. Each count has a $250,000 bond.

New documents revealed the 15-year-old patient told his mother he felt uncomfortable with the way Melvin held and "stared at" his private part during the physical exam.

The report said the mother brushed it off and believed the discomfort was due to the nature of the medical examination.

A few months later, the teen saw Melvin again for a shoulder injury that required an MRI.

Investigators said Melvin got the boy’s cellphone number so he could notify him directly of the results but began messaging him on Snapchat.

The boy’s mother found the messages and went to the Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office on May 9.

New court records detail the conversation between Melvin and the victim.

In the text message exchange, Melvin told the patient his private part was “really big.”

He also asked the teen if he watched porn and when was the last time he masturbated, per the report.

The victim’s mother turned the phone over to investigators so an undercover detective could pose as the boy.

Investigators said Melvin sent a picture of his groin area.

Action News Jax uncovered  that Melvin was investigated in 2018 for a sexual assault involving another child.

The report is heavily redacted, but it said that the Florida Department of Children and Families  received an anonymous tip June 3, 2018, that a 17-year-old had been molested by Melvin beginning in April of 2012.

The teen was interviewed by the Child Protection Team, which advised its case was positive for findings of abuse, according to the report.

On June 27, 2018, Melvin was interviewed by detectives at his lawyer’s office. Melvin denied the accusations.

The report said the detective requested Melvin be charged with lewd or lascivious molestation, but he was never formally charged.

Action News Jax spoke exclusively with the boy from the 2012 case. He said had they listened and arrested Melvin in 2018, this wouldn’t have happened to another child.

Melvin is due back in court Monday for his arraignment.

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