Loyola College principal Joseph Favrin accused of flashing genitals near public toilets
Details of suspended Loyola College principal’s alleged lewd act at a public toilet block can be revealed, as he vows to fight the charges.
Police & Courts
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Suspended Loyola College principal Joseph Favrin is accused of flashing his genitals at a public toilet block.
The Herald Sun can reveal for the first time the details of what police allege Mr Favrin did after he fronted Heidelberg Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Court documents allege the longstanding principal intentionally exposed his genitals at the Bundoora Park public toilet block on April 1.
They also detail how he allegedly “engaged in sexual activity” that was seen by another person “with the intention (that person) would probably experience fear or distress from seeing the activity”.
Mr Favrin, 67, who was suspended from the Watsonia school he had been at since 2008 when charged in May, has vehemently denied the allegations.
But he will have to wait five months to contest them in court.
His lawyer Sophie Parsons told the court her client would be pleading not guilty to the charges.
“The allegations are denied,” Ms Parsons said on his behalf.
The court heard his case would be adjourned for a contest mention in February.
The Herald Sun earlier revealed Mernda Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Team detectives had charged Mr Favrin with sexual activity directed at a person and one charge of sexual exposure.
It is alleged he made an “unwanted advance on an adult who he had never met previously”.
Soon after his brief court appearance, the acting principal of the embattled school, Alison Leutchford, wrote to parents to remind them to refrain “from speculating or passing judgement”.
The letter noted that the allegations against Mr Favrin do not involve any current or past college students and have been denied by the former principal.
“Mr Favrin’s role as principal and teaching registration continue to be suspended,” the letter said.
“While this remains a challenging time for our community, we must trust in the legal system and respect the right to natural justice, privacy and dignity for all involved parties,” it said.
One parent who received the letter called it a “procedural group hug in advance of media coverage and a reminder about innocent until proven guilty”.
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