Fred Baxter, former chairman of MVAC, pleads not guilty to historic sexual abuse charges

The former chairperson of the Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative is set to stand trial after pleading not guilty to historic sexual abuse charges.

Mr Baxter is accused of multiple historic sexual assault charges. Picture: Generic

The former chairperson of the Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative has pleaded not guilty to historic sexual abuse charges spanning nearly 40 years.

Frederick Baxter fronted the Mildura Magistrates Court accused of several counts of rape, assault and sexual assault dating back to 1987.

Mr Baxter was charged officially in October of 2023.

Court documents claim Mr Baxter allegedly raped a woman between October 2007 and 2008 by putting his finger in her vagina without consent.

Other allegations include Mr Baxter allegedly having sex with a child under the age of 16 sometime between 1990 and 1991.

The oldest allegation claims Mr Baxter indecently assaulted a woman in Robinvale between 1986 and 1987 by inserting his fingers into her vagina.

On top of the historic sexual abuse allegations, Mr Baxter is accused of several counts of assault.

Mr Baxter pleaded not guilty to several historic charges of sexual assault and assault at Mildura Magistrates Court

Court documents detail one alleged assault where Mr Baxter is accused of pinning a man down by the neck with a shovel.

When asked how he pleaded to the charges Mr Baxter said: “Not guilty, your honour,”

Much of Monday’s special mention centred around the alleged victims ability to give evidence at trial.

A medical expert told the court one of the victim’s had a cognitive impairment brought on by PTSD.

Despite Mr Baxter’s lawyer Thibaut Clamart requesting an adjournment, his request was rejected by Magistrate Patrick Southey.

“An adjournment at this stage is extremely undesirable,” Mr Southey said.

Mr Baxter was bailed ahead of the trial set to begin in the County Court in Mildura on September 18.