A former church youth worker has pleaded not guilty to dozens of child sex offences.
Key points:
- Phillip Gordan Ronald Salt was first charged by police last April
- Today he pleaded not guilty to dozens of child sex charges
- He will next face court over the matter in April
Phillip Gordan Ronald Salt is facing multiple counts of indecently dealing with a child under 13, and sexual penetration of a child under 13.
He's also charged with deprivation of liberty, common assault, and being a person in authority indecently dealing with a child.
The 35-year-old is further accused of failing to obey a data access order.
In the Perth Magistrate's Court today, Mr Salt loudly responded "not guilty" to each of the 40 charges as they were read out by the magistrate.
A young man sitting in the public gallery rocked back and forth and appeared distressed as the pleas were entered.
The offences allegedly occurred between 2016 and 2023 in the Perth suburbs of Kingsley, Thornlie and Mandurah, and involved multiple victims.
When WA Police initially charged him with more than a dozen offences in April 2023, they told the media Mr Salt met two male victims through a youth engagement role at a church.
Further charges have been laid since then, involving more alleged victims.
Mr Salt is scheduled to appear in the District Court in April, for a trial listing hearing for the majority of the charges.
Three charges of common assault in circumstances of aggravation or racial aggravation will return to the Magistrates Court in July.
Mr Salt had nothing to say to the media when he left court.
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