Melissa Koniaras admits to drug possession, burglary, unregistered gun

Drugs were hurriedly flushed down the sink as police arrived to raid the home of the owner of adisability support company, a court has heard.

Melissa Koniaras. Picture: LinkedIn.

Drugs were hurriedly flushed down the sink as police arrived to raid the home of the owner of adisability support company, a court has heard.

Melissa Koniaras, 34, pleaded guilty in the Geelong Magistates Court to possessing drugs including ice, cannabis, butanediol and alprazolam, dishonestly receiving and handling stolen goods, burglary and possessing both a controlled weapon and an unregistered handgun.

The Wandana Heights woman, who owns home support company and NDIS provider Melissa’s Family, was at home with four friends on August 3, when police arrived, the court heard.

Police prosecutor, Leading Senior Constable Kylie Jane on Monday told the court Koniaras did not open the door for five to seven minutes as the water meter by the door ran, leading police to believe drugs were being washed down the drain.

Analysis of the home’s bathroom sinks showed evidence of powder residue, the court heard.

Inside Koniaras’ home, police found documents including instructions on manufacturing and cooking drugs, 11g of a “crystal substance” believed to be ice, butanediol and alprazolam without a prescription.

The cylinder from a 3D printed gun and ammunition purchased by Koniaras was found in a Holden Rodeo ute, registered in her company’s name.

When being questioned by police, Koniaras denied any knowledge of the ute.

Magistrate John Bentley said he was intrigued as to how a “successful business lady got involved in all of this”.

The court heard the raid came after a string of offences.

In May, police alleged that Koniaras and a co-accused burglarised a Belmont property.

Police said the victim was known to Koniaras, and the incident occurred after a dispute regarding a debt the victim owed to her.

Koniaras and her co-accused stole alcohol, a safe, a camping fridge and a Pokemon card collection, the court was told.

Police subsequently raided Koniaras’s home, where they found many of the stolen items, bags of ice, a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a generator, the court heard.

Both the motorbike and the generator later turned out to be stolen, however, police did not allege Koniaras stole them.

While Koniaras was on bail for the burglary, she was arrested on July 14 after police discovered ice, butanediol, a 20cm kitchen knife and the keys to a stolen car among her possessions.

Koniaras also used the Signal app to buy a 3D-printed gun and ammunition. The seller was arrested on July 28, police said, leading to the second raid of Ms Koniaras’ home on August 3.

Ms Koniaras’ lawyer, Ryan Robertson, presented Mr Bentley with a letter from psychologist Warren Simmons to shed light on how “an intelligent, articulate woman who runs their own business … and looks after people with particular vulnerabilities” could end up in this situation.

Mr Robertson told the court the report was “confronting reading” and said Koniaras had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder.

Mr Bentley said it was of the utmost importance that Koniaras make changes in her life.

“She needs to distance herself from the known associates,” he said.

“There’s no doubt that police will be coming around to that house with a search warrant at the slightest inkling.”

Mr Robertson told the court that Koniaras intended to “get out of Geelong” and move to Queensland to be with family and a support system.

Mr Bentley said he took into account that Koniaras had no priors, and that she had pleaded guilty “at the earliest possible opportunity”, in exploring the option of a community corrections order, rather than prison.

Koniaras will return to court on Thursday, August 24.

Originally published as Melissa Koniaras admits to drug possession, burglary, unregistered gun