Former Moonee Valley mayor Cameron Nation unmasked and jailed for abusing teenager

A former mayor who admitted to sexually touching a teenager has sobbed as he learned his identity will be publicly revealed for the first time.

Melbourne magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz revoked a suppression order over Cameron Nation, 42, before jailing the ex Moonee Valley leader for three months.

Nation pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting a child under his authority after inviting a teenager to his home in December 2019.

Nation and the victim, 17, consumed nitrous oxide which made the teen feel “spaced out”, the court heard.

He began kissing the boy before Nation placed his own mouth in an intimate area.

The victim told police he felt uncomfortable, confused and like he had no control during the assault.

Less than 12 months later, Nation began serving a one-year term as mayor for Moonee Valley’s 130,000 residents.

Defence lawyer Sam Norton said his client’s offending lasted a short time, was not planned and was a one-off.

Prosecutors agreed with his call for a community corrections order, which Norton characterised as appropriate given any time in prison would likely to “substantially worsen” his mental health.

The magistrate disagreed, describing the offending as serious and a breach of trust.

Mykytowycz said three months in jail was “shorter than what otherwise might be the case” due to his remorse and low likelihood of reoffending.

The former mayor and councillor, who left office in 2024, sobbed as the magistrate detailed a prior suicide attempt and how his 11-year relationship had come to an end.

She rejected his bid to extend a media gag order on his identity for another two years, after his lawyer cited concerns for mental health and suicide ideation.

A psychologist’s report before the court had stated there was an “appreciable risk” Nation’s mental health would decline if he experienced further public attention.