Texas teacher Michael Mullen in court for alleged shop masturbation, knife

A school teacher has allegedly been caught masturbating in a sex shop and later holding a knife behind his back while browsing for goods inside the same store, a court has heard.

Texas teacher Michael Mullen was granted bail in Maroochydore Magistrates for holding a knife inside a sex shop.

A teacher from a school in the small Queensland town of Texas has been released on bail after the court heard he allegedly held a knife behind his back and masturbated inside a Sunshine Coast adult store.

Michael John Mullen, 52, was charged on January 14, 2022, when it was alleged he approached a staff member at Intrigues adult shop in Marcoola and asked for oral sex.

He then allegedly pulled his pants down, exposing his genitals, and masturbated inside the store.

Mr Mullen was granted watch house bail for the offence under the condition he was not allowed to attend the David Low Way shop again.

The teacher, who now lives at Dulong, allegedly broke the bail condition when he showed up to Intrigues at 12pm on February 3 and wandered around the shop for 20 minutes looking at various goods.

According to court documents, a staff member offered to help Mr Mullen when she allegedly saw him holding a knife behind his back.

“The staff member instantly became extremely fearful,” the documents said.

“She stated to the defendant words to the effect of ‘you and your knife need to leave now’.”

Staff decided to close the shop for the day as a safety measure after seeing Mr Mullen “loitering” in the carpark.

Texas teacher Michael Mullen was granted bail in Maroochydore Magistrates for holding a knife inside a sex shop.

Police will allege Mr Mullen then returned to the closed store at 2.30pm on the same day and was circling the building before sitting down on a park bench with a knife beside him.

The store manager and her partner allegedly went to the carpark and removed the knife from the bench before performing a citizen’s arrest on Mr Mullen until police arrived.

Mr Mullen appeared by video link in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Friday charged with going armed so as to cause fear, five breaches of bail and unauthorised dealing of shop goods.

The unauthorised dealing related to an incident where Mr Mullen allegedly stole a $1 cup of coffee from 7-Eleven at Noosa.

Bail for the recent charges was opposed by the prosecution due to an unacceptable risk that if released Mr Mullen would either commit an offence, endanger the safety and welfare of a person, interfere with witnesses or obstruct the course of justice.

Magistrate Rod Madsen granted Mr Mullen bail on the condition he would not return to Marcoola and a mental health assessment would be completed.

The matter was adjourned until March 25, 2022.

Originally published as Texas teacher Michael Mullen in court for alleged shop masturbation, knife