Jason Ryan and Danny Kuhar plead not guilty to gun, drug thefts

A gun stolen from a Newtown home in November is yet to be found, as the alleged burglars face court.

Danny Kuhur at Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

A firearm stolen from a Newtown property hasn’t been found, as two men accused of the theft of guns, cash and drugs have pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday Jason Ryan, 42, and Norlane’s Danny Kuhar, 51, were committed to face trial at the County Court on multiple theft and burglary charges stemming from two incidents on November 12, 2022.

Geelong Magistrates’ Court heard the pair were alleged to have stolen tools and firearms from a gun safe inside a garage at a Newtown home.

The pair are also accused of breaking into a Bell Park post office, stealing parcels and cash, and a nearby dentist, stealing a laptop, anaesthetic drugs and equipment.

Both men were arrested at a Norlane property after the burglaries, where one of the stolen guns was found. The second gun stolen was not found, the court heard.

Mr Ryan was also on bail at the time of the alleged burglaries.

A cigarette butt taken from one of the burglary scenes was tested for DNA and “could not exclude” Mr Ryan, the court heard.

A prosecutor told the court Mr Ryan’s face was allegedly seen multiple times throughout CCTV footage of the Newtown burglary, including points where it was alleged his mask was removed and he “held a torch between his teeth”.

William Blake, the barrister representing Mr Ryan, cross examined informant Detective Senior Constable Daniel Blake on whether Mr Ryan could be linked to the Newtown burglary.

Mr Blake argued there was an “absence of any tangible evidence” as Mr Ryan’s DNA and fingerprints were not found at the scene, and mobile phone data did not link him to the gun theft.

The prosecutor told the court Mr Ryan was involved in the alleged crimes, with CCTV footage backed up by “strong circumstantial evidence”.

Along with the footage captured from multiple cameras across both burglaries, police found clothes at the Norlane property matching clothing allegedly spotted in the CCTV footage.

The prosecution alleged Mr Ryan wore clothing, including a hoodie with a distinctive element and a pair of sweatpants with a specific logo, seen in the footage.

“(Mr Ryan)’s in front of the camera quite a lot … it can be inferred it’s Mr Ryan,” a prosecutor told the court.

“(It’s) direct evidence, in it that shows it’s him – it’s his face.”

The court heard a white SUV was also captured in CCTV from both crime scenes, and that vehicle was allegedly found at the property where both men were arrested.

Magistrate Michelle Hodgson said testing the evidence was a matter for a jury, and sent the pair to the County Court.

Mr Ryan was remanded in custody. Mr Kuhar was bailed on strict conditions including reporting to police and abiding by a curfew.

Both men will face the County Court on September 5.

Originally published as Jason Ryan and Danny Kuhar plead not guilty to gun, drug thefts