The Riverland criminals who faced court in 2021 and the consequences they faced
From violent bikie robberies to repay a debt to multiple child groomers, including teachers preying on students, these are the region’s criminals punished in 2021.
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From a driver high on meth who killed his best mate in a crash to violent robberies to repay debts, plenty of Riverland criminals landed themselves in hot water with the law in 2021.
Here is a list of crimes committed in the region and the consequences the offenders faced when they fronted court.
Damian Green
A man is remorseful for his role in a violent robbery in which a man was seriously injured in a bid to repay a bikie’s debt.
Damian Anthony Green, 42, was jailed in the Adelaide District Court for his involvement in the terrifying home invasion.
The court heard at least three men and one woman forcefully entered a Two Wells home on September 8, 2017. A man and a woman were inside.
“One of the male offenders either used or threatened to use a taser against (the man) causing him to fall backwards and on to his bedroom floor,” Judge Jane Schammer said during sentencing.
The man was assaulted, had a knife held to his neck and was detained for 45 minutes, with his hands tied behind his back with electrical tape.
He suffered concussion, a fractured nose, damage to his eye socket and multiple lacerations.
The group stole three cars, three motorbikes, a trailer, money and electronic devices.
Green, of Cobdogla, was found guilty in trial of multiple charges, including false imprisonment and assault causing harm.
Judge Schammer sentenced Green to three years and two months’ jail, with a non-parole period of one year.
The sentence was backdated to February 25.
Joshua Henschke
A former chef started making explosive devices for “a bit of fun” after he found himself with some time on his hands.
Joshua Kym Gomez Henschke, 33, turned to YouTube videos to learn how to make them after he lost his job.
The Adelaide Magistrates Court heard police searched a Moorook property on April 30.
They located an electronic detonator, a flare and wooden tamper and a roll of electrical tape.
“The Bomb Response Unit was called and located further items, including a blue cylindrical object with a fuse inserted at one end,” Magistrate Brett Dixon said.
The court heard 147g of sulphur, 314g of potassium nitrate and charcoal was also found.
“The Bomb Response Unit gave the opinion these three chemicals can be mixed together to produce a black powder which is an explosive substance,” Mr Dixon said.
Henschke, of Loxton, had previously pleaded guilty to possessing an explosive device and taking steps in the manufacture of an explosive device.
Mr Dixon sentenced Henschke to 11 months and 30 days’ jail.
The sentence was wholly suspended on an 18-month, $500 good behaviour bond.
Daniel Williams
A man has shown little empathy for pretending to be a 14-year-old boy online to pursue a child for sexual activity, a court has heard.
Daniel Luke Williams, 27, groomed a 12-year-old girl living in Queensland, in October, 2020 at Renmark.
The prosecutor described Williams’ behaviour as predatory.
“The complainant was only 12 years of age when she was contacted by the defendant,” the prosecutor told the Adelaide District Court.
“The defendant became aware of her age very soon after they started communicating, yet he continued pursuing her.”
The court heard Williams told the victim he was 14 years old, despite being 27 at the time.
When police searched Williams’ phone, they found 22 images and one video of child exploitation material, in category one and two.
Williams, of Elizabeth Vale, had previously pleaded guilty to procuring a child for sexual activity and possessing child exploitation material.
He will be sentenced at a later date.
Renee Underwood
A Riverland teacher has left her victim’s parents with “overwhelming guilt” for trusting her, after she groomed their 14-year-old for sex.
Renee Jade Underwood, 34, wept as she was jailed in Adelaide District Court, for exploiting her position of power to meet her own emotional needs.
The court heard Underwood was teaching at a Riverland school when she met the 14-year-old student.
“You connected with him on social media,” Judge Jane Schammer said during sentencing.
The court heard Underwood explained the sexual acts she wanted to do with the student.
“You sent the complainant a photograph depicting your partially exposed breasts, you prompted him to send a revealing photograph of himself in exchange,” Judge Schammer said.
The court heard Underwood also drove the victim home from school, despite it being against school policy.
The Stepney woman had previously pleaded guilty to communicating to make a child amenable to sexual activity.
Judge Schammer sentenced Underwood to one year and six months in jail, with a non-parole period of eight months.
Lachlan Brown
A Riverland KFC worker was “persistent and demanding” in procuring underage girls for sex, which led to him having sexual intercourse with one.
Lachlan Miles Brown, 19, avoided jail in the Adelaide District Court for grooming three children, who were aged 15 and up.
The court Brown sent the first victim sexually explicit photographs and gifted her lingerie.
“You met up with her and engaged in sexual activity,” Judge Adam Kimber said during sentencing.
The court heard Brown sent the second victim a video of him masturbating and asked the third victim to send photographs of her feet and a naked photograph.
Brown also sent her a naked photograph.
Brown, of Renmark West, had previously pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual intercourse and three counts of procuring a child for sexual activity.
Judge Kimber sentenced Brown to 13 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of 11 months.
The sentence was suspended on a two-year, $5000 good behaviour bond, with supervision for 18 months.
Joshua Ekisa
A man who attempted to rape an unconscious woman told her it was best for her to leave because he wouldn’t be able to stop.
Joshua Ekisa’s despicable actions left the woman severely traumatised after he removed her underwear while she was sleeping.
The Adelaide District Court heard the 24-year-old man met the victim at the Sugar Nightclub in Adelaide on May 1, 2018.
“You offered to let the victim stay overnight at your house,” Judge Simon Stretton said during sentencing.
“She told you that if she went to your place nothing sexual was to happen and you agreed, pointing out that you had two separate bedrooms at your premises.”
The victim was woken to Ekisa attempting to rape her.
“She screamed with pain and pushed you back, noting her underwear and stockings had been removed by you,” Judge Stretton said.
Ekisa, who went to school in Glossop, had previously pleaded guilty to attempted rape.
Judge Stretton sentenced Ekisa to seven years and nine months, with a non-parole period of five years.
The sentence was backdated to July 9, 2019.
Peter Sargent
A father who was fed up with his son’s behaviour struck him in the head after driving at him with his car before ploughing into their family home.
Peter Graeme Sargent, 43, narrowly avoided jail in the Adelaide District Court after a domestic dispute ended with his son being hospitalised.
The court heard Sargent and his son, aged 14 at the time, were arguing on June 17, 2019.
Sargent, who was “angry and frustrated”, returned a few minutes later to the Paralowie house where his partner and three children lived.
“You drove at speed over a roundabout and towards a house where your son was standing on a front porch,” Chief Judge Evans said.
“Your car clipped him as it crashed into the house. Your son was hospitalised and required surgery.”
Sargent’s son, who miraculously only suffered minor injuries after being struck in the head by the car as it soared past was taken to Lyell McEwin Hospital.
Sargent, of Kingston on Murray, had previously pleaded guilty to causing harm by dangerous driving and property damage.
Chief Judge Evans sentenced Sargent to two years and four months’ jail, with a non-parole period of 15 months. He ordered the sentence be served on home detention.
Sargent was also ordered to complete 80 hours of community service within 18 months and was disqualified from driving for 10 years.
Jordan Wiseman
Two mates teamed up to grow and sell marijuana in efforts to make some quick cash, one to repay a debt and the other to fuel his own drug habit.
Cooper John Standley, 23, and Jordan Andrew Wiseman, 23, avoided jail in Adelaide District Court for their significant marijuana enterprise.
The court heard Wiseman attended a Nailsworth Pack and Send store on June 2, last year and arranged for a large box to be sent to Western Australia.
“Employees of the store phoned police because the heavily taped package appeared to be suspicious,” Judge Liesl Chapman said during sentencing.
Inside the package were 12 sealed bags of marijuana, weighing 5.61kg.
“The potential value of the drug you were sending to Western Australia, if sold locally, was just over $29,000 if sold in pound lots,” Judge Chapman said.
Standley, of Seaton, and Wiseman, of Waikerie, had previously pleaded guilty to cultivating a controlled plant, while Wiseman also pleaded guilty to commercial drug trafficking.
The court heard Standley, who was friends with Wiseman from school, asked for his help knowing he would have experience growing marijuana.
Judge Chapman sentenced Standley to nine months’ jail, suspended on two-year good behaviour bond.
Wiseman was sentenced to four years and six months’ jail, with a non-parole period of two years and seven months.
The sentence was suspended on a three-year good behaviour bond, with two years’ supervision.
Dylan Stone
A man armed with a machete terrorised caravan park residents and demanded money in attempts to repay a debt.
Dylan Lennon Stone, 20, was high on Xanax and could see no way out except to rob the unsuspecting victims.
The Adelaide District Court heard Stone knocked on a door in a Barmera caravan park on May 15, 2021.
“You were wearing a balaclava and were armed with a machete,” Judge Heath Barklay said during sentencing.
“You demanded money and the victim handed you a $50 note.”
Stone then attempted to rob a couple in the same caravan park on May 16, 2021.
“This time you were in company of another man – both of you were wearing balaclavas,” Judge Barklay said.
When the victim came to the door the men demanded his wallet but he managed to chase them away.
Stone, of Barmera, had previously pleaded guilty to robbery.
Judge Barklay sentenced Stone to four years and 10 months’ jail, with a non-parole period of two years and six months.
The sentence was backdated to August 16, 2021.
Jayson Ramsay
A drug-addicted, disqualified driver who was speeding through the backroads of the Riverland to avoid police in the minutes before a crash has been jailed for almost four years.
Jayson Kyle Ramsay, now 21, pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving over the crash on May 19, 2020.
Ramsay’s best friend Adrian Hobinchet was killed in the crash while Ramsay’s stepbrother was seriously injured.
During sentencing in the District Court, Judge Ian Press said Ramsay had not slept for at least 24 hours before the crash.
“On May 18, 2020 you and your two friends drove from Berri to Adelaide,” he said.
“Before driving back you smoked two points of methamphetamine. Your friend Adrian drove from Adelaide to Blanchetown and after that you drove.”
Ramsay had two court ordered driving disqualifications at the time of the crash.
In the early hours of May 19, 2020, Ramsay, sleep-deprived and drug-affected, left the road and crashed into a concrete drain.
Ramsay pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.
Ramsay was sentenced to three years, 11 months and five days in prison with a non-parole period of three years and six days.
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