Prosecutors drop weapons charge against ‘heavy drug user’ Dennis John Pitts

Prosecutors have dropped an illicit weapons charge against a meth addict who was allegedly caught with weapons and drugs in his car that he attempted to bring across the border from Victoria.

A convicted South-East drug dealer who allegedly attempted to bring weapons and drugs across the border from Victoria has had one of his illicit weapons charges dropped, a court has heard.

Dennis John Pitts, 49, was charged with trafficking a controlled substance and two counts of possession of a prescribed firearm without a licence after he allegedly fled a police traffic stop in Victoria in 2022.

The man’s lawyer, Jarrad Sim, told the Mount Gambier Magistrates Court the move to drop one of the illicit weapons charges was news to him and he had not had the chance to speak with his client about the reduced charges.

A single count of possessing a firearm without a licence was dropped, with Mr Pitts yet to enter a plea for the remaining charges.

Mr Pitts first fronted court in October and was granted strict home detention bail after he allegedly attempted to bring the guns and drugs across the border.

Convicted heroin dealer Dennis John Pitts is facing fresh allegations of drug trafficking.

Mr Pitts allegedly sped off across the border to SA after the two men he was travelling with in Victoria were allegedly found with drugs and firearms during a traffic stop.

After receiving a tip-off from Victorian police, SAPOL officers lay in wait at his Mount Gambier home.

Located behind the rear passenger seat of the car he was driving, police found 62 grams of methamphetamine, a pen gun and a small handheld taser, the court heard.

A search of Mr Pitts’ house uncovered a small amount of cannabis, a large amount of plastic deal-bags, two sets of scales, knuckle dusters, a spring loaded knife and roughly $180 in cash, the court heard.

Drugs and weapons seized at Mount Gambier. Picture: SA Police

Drugs and weapons seized at Mount Gambier. Picture: SA Police

His earlier bail was revoked in December after a friend who was also living at the address died of an apparent overdose, a court has heard.

During his appearance in December, the court previously heard Mr Pitts had served four months imprisonment for trafficking heroin in 2011.

A renewed bail agreement was granted despite opposition from prosecutor India Hopkins who told the court Mr Pitts took nearly 1.7 grams of methamphetamine a day while on bail.

Mr Sim conceded Mr Pitts was a “heavy drug user” but said delays in setting up drug counselling had contributed to his ongoing methamphetamine use.

The court heard Mr Pitts had a “severely disabled” daughter living in Melbourne whose caregivers wanted to bring to the South-East.

“She’s recently been hospitalised due to spine and lung issues — and it’s not thought that she’s got much longer to live,” he said.

Mr Sim said the girl and her caregivers wanted to see Mr Pitts “a final time” with the girl’s quadriplegia preventing her from visiting him in prison.

Mr Sim added the new proposed bail address at Mr Pitt’s parents’ home would help keep “undesirable associates away from the property”.

The Messenger is not suggesting Mr Pitts is responsible for the death of the other resident.

There have been no allegations of further drug use while Mr Pitt has been on bail.

The Mount Gambier man will next front court in May.