Former Flagler County paramedic James Melady was convicted Wednesday of molesting an unconscious woman in a 2024 incident in the back of an ambulance. Melady averted a more potent charge of sexual battery against an incapacitated woman, which he was initially charged with.
The verdict came at the conclusion of a three-day trial, presided over by Circuit Judge Dawn Nichols. A jury of four women and two men returned the verdict, which will set Melady up for a prison sentence of up to 15 years. Had he been convicted of raping an incapacitated woman, that sentence could’ve gone as high as 30 years.
State Attorney R.J. Larizza, whose office prosecuted Melady, was less than exuberant about the verdict. “The defendant not only abused our victim – he abused the position he held as a first responder,” Larizza said in a statement. “His sentence should reflect the damage he did to our victim and to the profession he shamed.”
38-year-old Melady was arrested in September for a 2021 incident in which he was said to have molested an unconscious patient on video. Melady, a paramedic with Flagler County Fire Rescue, was in-uniform and on-duty when the incident occurred. The victim remained unaware the incident had taken place until three years later when the footage came to light.
Melady has been in custody since September 13th, 2024. Though his conviction only assures him up to fifteen years behind bars, he may still end up serving longer. Melady has also been charged with possessing a stolen credit card and fraudulent usage of ID on a victim 60 or older. Additionally, Melady is facing charges in Volusia County of burglary and video voyeurism. All this could net him up to 40 more years in prison on top of his forthcoming maximum sentence of 15.
Chris Gollon is a Flagler County resident since 2004, as well as a staple of the local independent music scene and avid observer of Central Florida politics, arts, and recreation.
