Rovers Football Club player Justin James Crudeli to face court over alleged rape of teenage girl

A well-known Geraldton football player and former boxing coach is to stand trial for the alleged rape of a teenage girl who plays for the same club. Justin James Crudeli, 36 appeared in Geraldton District Court on Friday and maintained his pleas of not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent. Mr Crudeli is alleged to have sexually assaulted a 16-year-old girl known to him through the Rovers Football Club in Rangeway on July 8. Prosecutor Adam O’Connor told the court the alleged victim was to be interviewed to add to the body of evidence against Mr Crudeli. His trial was set for two days on September 20, and Judge Andrew Stavrianou renewed his bail until September 13, when he is due to appear for mention. The 36-year-old was charged after the 16-year-old girl told police she was raped at a Rangeway home on July 8. Police arrested Mr Crudeli, who was employed at the time as a boxing coach at the Geraldton PCYC, on July 29. As part of his bail conditions he is banned from attempting to contact the girl and two witnesses, or from being within 50m of them and within 100m of where they live, work or are educated. This condition led to a complaint to police by the young woman in August after Mr Crudeli allegedly lingered at a football oval where she was playing in the game following his. The teenager told police she became uneasy when Mr Crudeli made no attempt to leave the oval, however there was no suggestion he breached his bail conditions. Mr Crudeli had appeared in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court the day before after allegedly working with kids without a valid Working With Children card. In August, the court heard his Working with Children card had expired in June, with Acting Sgt Paul White saying Mr Crudeli had declined to renew it. He is facing allegations he worked with minors between June 10 and July 27 without having the valid permit. The matter was adjourned until April 22. As part of bail conditions imposed in August, Mr Crudeli is banned from volunteering or working with children. It has not been alleged he breached those conditions.