An Auburndale man was arrested for sexually battering five girls, some as young as 12 years old, over the span of two years.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit arrested Justin Cruey, 18, on March 29.
According to the arrest affidavit and interviews with victims and witnesses, the first victim, who was 13-years-old at the time, was sleeping at a family member’s home sometime in March or early April of 2016.
Cruey, who was then 16, entered the home through the bedroom window around 12:30 a.m. and forced oral sex and unprotected intercourse on the victim.
The first victim left the bedroom and when she came back, she saw Cruey laying on top on her friend.
The second victim, who was 12-years-old at the time, told detectives Cruey touched her and sucked on her neck until he left a mark.
A family member later walked into the bedroom and forced Cruey to leave.
The first victim did not tell the family member about the sexual battery.
Detectives were told Cruey hung out after school at a local middle school and notified a school resource officer.
On March 26, the SRO notified detectives that a third victim, a 12-year-old student, recently mentioned Cruey.
The victim told detectives that Cruey sexually battered her approximately two weeks prior at a local park in Winter Haven.
She told detectives Cruey touched her inappropriately and kissed her.
She said she told Cruey to stop and he refused.
On March 18 at the park, the victim said Cruey pinned her feet and hands down and raped her.
A fourth victim, a 15-year-old, told detectives that on March 24, she and Cruey were sitting at a picnic table at a Winter Haven park when Cruely touched her inappropriately.
She told detectives she tried to leave, but Cruey threatened her with a knife.
On March 29, the third victim asked Cruey to bring her an emergency contraceptive pill, fearing she may be pregnant. The victim notified detectives.
Cruey agreed to meet her at the park, but was found and arrested prior to the meeting.
After Cruey’s arrest, a fifth victim, age 13, came forward and showed detectives photos of her and Cruey on her phone.
The fifth victim told detectives that approximately three weeks ago, Cruey snuck into a bedroom where the victim was staying.
The photos on the phone shows a sexual act.
“As far as we know Cruey has been sexually battering young girls since he was 16-years-old. We need to find out if there are more victims. If you know your daughter has been in contact with Cruey either from school or a personal interaction, please call us. We need to make sure Cruey is held accountable for his actions,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Cruey is charged with two counts of sexual battery with threat of force, lewd molestation, sexual battery, lewd lascivious conduct on a person younger than 16 and older than 12 and two counts of violation of probation.
He is being held at the Polk County Jail on $95,000 bond for the sexual battery charges and on no bond for his two counts of violation of probation.
