12 Adelaide street level drug dealers exposed including Milos Pavic, Somontha Chea and Steven Gonos
From a man who stashed $14k of meth in a packet of baby wipes to a registered dog breeder delivering coke to a hotel, here are 12 SA dealers sentenced for their crimes.
Police & Courts
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Adelaide may no longer hold the undesirable title of the nation’s ice capital but drug trafficking remains a common theme in the South Australia’s court system.
While the city has dropped to second behind Perth for methylamphetamine, drug use across the country is on the rise according to ACIC National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program data.
With daily cocaine, fentanyl and ketamine use increasing in Adelaide, large scale operations aren’t the only concern and street level dealers are also dealt with seriously in the District Court.
Here are some of Adelaide’s most recent street level dealers to face court.
MILOS PAVIC
An aspiring young builder cried in the arms of his family after he was spared jail for dealing meth.
Milos Pavic, 23, was charged with drug trafficking in August 2019 while he was serving an 18-month suspended sentence over other drug offences.
Pavic’s first offence of supplying or administering a drug to another person occurred in June 2018 when he was found in a car with two friends with MDMA.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Michael Durrant said at the time of Pavic’s second drug related offence he was “in the grip of addiction”.
“The circumstance of this offending is framed by the conviction and bond imposed by the learned magistrate,” Judge Durrant said.
“I accept that rather than dissuade you from continuing drug use, the conviction and bond provoked in you further self-destructive behaviour.
“Your spiral into addiction, despondency and crime continued until you were arrested for this trafficking offence in August 2019.”
A “sobering” eight days in Yatala prison and a reconnection with family led Pavic to redemption and consistent employment.
“You have, in the last two years and nine months, taken real and significant steps towards rehabilitation,” Judge Durrant said.
The judge heard Pavic had not used drugs since 2019 and had been employed with his father’s construction business, having completed a certificate in timber framing and building and construction.
“I consider that your progress to date is a real and tangible demonstration of living a law-abiding life,” he said.
Pavic was sentenced to three years and eight months, with a non parole period of two years and two months, which was suspended on a good behaviour bond.
He was ordered to refrain from consumption of drugs and alcohol during his sentence.
“Mr Pavic, you have been given an opportunity today to continue your rehabilitation in the community under strict supervision,” Judge Durrant said.
“Do not waste that opportunity. Do not waste the potential that you obviously have.”
RYAN JAMES VAN HOUTEN
A traffic stop unravelled a drug dealing habit sparked by a relationship breakdown.
Ryan James Van Houten was sentenced in the District Court for two counts, trafficking methamphetamine and fantasy.
The 39-year-old was stopped in November 2019 driving on Hindmarsh Road at McCracken with meth in press-sealed bags within a black sunglasses case.
Police also found a 200ml shower gel bottle stored in a compartment in the driver’s side car door which contained 108g of fantasy.
They also found a tick list of drug debts or sales at $4215.
“You say that your motive for selling the drugs was to feed your own habit and that you were selling to a relatively small circle of people who were known to you,” Judge Timothy Heffernan said.
“I propose to sentence you on the basis that you were a user-dealer operating at the lower end of the scale for offending of this kind.”
Judge Heffernan said Van Houten had a history of offending including two assault charges.
He was also charged with prior drug trafficking offences in 2012.
“You took the opportunity to tell him (the judge) that you had turned your life around, that you were remorseful and that you just wanted to live a normal life,” Judge Heffernan said.
“You assured him that you would not be coming back.
“It was less than two years later that you committed those further serious offences to which I have referred.”
Judge Heffernan said Van Houten’s meth use increased following a relationship breakdown.
He was sentenced to four years and two months jail, with a non parole period of two years seven months backdated to July 2020.
SOMONTHA CHEA
A heroin user caught up in a northern suburbs drug syndicate texted an undercover police officer “Wat you need” when they claimed to be seeking drugs.
Somontha Chea, 37, was sentenced in the District Court for trafficking a controlled drug at Parafield Gardens in February 2020.
An undercover police officer attended Chea’s home which was occupied by two other targets in a police investigation into the drug syndicate at the time.
Chea provided the officer with heroin upon their request.
“You gave the operative a small aluminium foil wrap containing .14g of heroin for which the undercover operative paid you $100. You also gave your phone number to the operative,” Judge Jane Schammer said.
The officer later made multiple attempts to call Chea, for which he replied with a text saying “Wat you need”.
Five days later Chea provided more drugs to the undercover operator.
He was arrested several days later and charged with drug trafficking.
Judge Schammer said at the time of Chea’s offending he was a heavy drug user.
“You would borrow money from friends and family to support your addiction,” she said.
“You are a first time drug offender and a low level street dealer.
“I accept that the offending occurred in the context of your long standing addiction and you have voluntarily embarked on a course of withdrawing from the use of drugs.”
The court heard Chea had a supportive and “hard-working” family of Cambodian descent.
He was sentenced to two years and one month prison with a non parole period of nine months.
TROY ERIC DALY
A registered dog breeder admitted he was on his way to deliver cocaine to a person in a hotel in exchange for $650 while driving disqualified.
Troy Eric Daly was charged with traffic offences and trafficking in a controlled drug after he was pulled over near his home in February 2021.
After police raided Daly’s car they found five plastic resealable bags containing cocaine in the glove box.
Upon a further search of his home, police found 15.9g of a powdered white substance in the kitchen as well as digital scales and plastic resealable bags.
Daly told police the cocaine in the car was set to be sold to someone at a hotel and the cocaine located in the kitchen was intended for sale in exchange for $4000.
The 21-year-old concreter struggled with a cocaine habit and blew $17,000 in three months to purchase the drugs.
Following his arrest Daly ceased all drug use.
“I accept you have changed your life since your arrest,” Judge Michael Burnett said.
“You have supportive friends and your work, sport and spending time with your dogs have all been positive and improved your mental health.
“I accept that your arrest has acted as a catalyst for you to reassess your life and cease use of illicit substances.
“I consider your prospects of rehabilitation are good and you are engaging in prosocial activities.”
Daly was handed a suspended sentence of three years, with a non parole period of 18 months.
SHAUN JAMES MCMAHON
A drug dealer’s mother was “heartbroken” by her son’s offending which saw him sell more than 50g of meth to multiple undercover police officers.
Shaun James McMahon was sentenced to 11 counts of trafficking a controlled drug for offending which occurred in Murray Bridge from February 2021 to May of that year.
An undercover officer approached McMahon outside a local supermarket in late February and asked if he could assist in her purchase of meth.
His first sale of .17g of meth sparked multiple different purchases of drugs from different officers off McMahon over a 10-week period.
During one sale, he sold an officer 20.6g for $5000.
McMahon was arrested in May 2021 after officers raided his property and shed.
“You told police that you helped people who needed the drug by sourcing methamphetamine from others for those people,” District Court Judge Jane Schammer said.
“You explained that you would then take some of the drugs supplied for your own use and that you were not making any money out of the offending.”
The 45-year-old father of two grew up in a stable household, and Judge Schammer said McMahon’s offending was particularly hard felt by his mother.
“Your mother is heartbroken by your offending; she has told you that you will need to demonstrate to her that you have changed in order to mend your relationship with her,” she said.
McMahon was sentenced on the basis he was a street-level drug dealer facilitating the supply of meth to others to primarily support his own addiction.
He will spend four years and three months behind bars with a non parole period of three years three months.
KODI UTHMANN
A meth addict suffers from PTSD after being manipulated with violence to continue in the drug trade.
Kodi Uthmann, 27, was so in fear of further reprisals he agreed to courier a significant amount of methamphetamine and a loaded gun.
The District Court heard police searched Uthmann’s car on January 6, 2020 at Birkenhead.
They found 135g of mixed methamphetamine, with a pure quantity of 86g, a firearm loaded with nine rounds, a suppressor and ammunition.
The value of the methamphetamine was between $12,500 and over $50,000.
“After your release from prison, you had contact with past associates who prevailed upon you to resume trafficking,” Judge Adam Kimber said during sentencing.
“I have no doubt you knew the firearm was to be used in criminal activity, likely the drug trade.”
Uthmann, of Modbury North, pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Andrew Graham, for Uthmann, told the court he was manipulated with violence to continue drug dealing.
“There was an incident at Castle Plaza in Edwardstown where he was lured to the shopping centre, stabbed in the chest (and) suffered a punctured lung,” Mr Graham said.
The court heard when Uthmann was released from jail for previous drug dealing offences he was found by his old associates again and stabbed in the shoulder.
“You have a post traumatic stress disorder as a result of being assaulted by those seeking to recover your debt,” Judge Kimber said.
“You have also reported being harassed while in custody by associates of those to whom you owe money.
“You have reported fearing for your life.”
The court heard Uthmann was addicted to methamphetamine and had a traumatic upbringing.
The court heard Uthmann had written a letter of remorse and had a job as an apprentice for a plumbing company available to him once released.
Judge Kimber sentenced Uthmann to six years and two months jail, with a non-parole period of five years.
“Methamphetamine is a drug which causes enormous harm to users and the community,” he said.
“The intention to provide a loaded firearm to a person involved in the drug trade places others at considerable risk.”
The sentence was backdated to October 13, 2020.
FREDERICK LESLIE BROWN
A meth dealer who led police to his stash during separate drug overdoses also failed a rehabilitation course because he broke a leg while in the midst of another overdose, a court has heard.
Frederick Leslie Brown, 33, was being treated for a suspected drug overdose when police arrived at his home in February 2020.
They uncovered 9.04g of the illicit substance in four plastic resealable bags, a tick list and a “large sum” of cash.
Almost a year later in January 2021, while Brown was on bail, police searched a Port Lincoln hotel room where Brown was staying and found a further 6.77g of methylamphetamine and $650 cash.
At the time, he was again in the midst of an overdose.
The arborist pleaded guilty to two counts of trafficking in a controlled drug.
In sentencing, District Court Judge Geraldine Davison said Brown failed to complete a rehabilitation program because he broke his leg while again overdosing.
Prior to imposing sentence, Judge Davison called upon him to give evidence and asked what he would do to curb his urge to use drugs.
In response Brown said he had “always considered it was someone else forcing me to quit drugs” until recently.
“In the last couple of months I’ve really made it my choice. I want to get my affairs together and go back to being a productive member of society,” he said.
Judge Davison sentenced Brown on the basis he was a “street level dealer who has traded over a period of time”.
“Trafficking in drugs is a serious offence. Deterrence both of you, and other members of the community who are minded to engage in this offending, is a significant issue in respect of sentencing,” she said.
“These drugs cause significant amounts of harm in the community and your history in relation to them is one such example.”
Judge Davison suspended a jail term of five years and two months on condition Brown sign a three-year good behaviour bond.
As part of the bond, she ordered he successfully complete a rehabilitation program.
“It’s not optional to comply with the bond, it’s compulsory,” she said.
“You have been given every possible chance here. You recognise that if you do stop taking drugs you have a future ahead of you.
“Only you can determine that.”
MITCHELL HARRIS
A business owner was told by a judge it’s now up to him to turn his life around after he was busted stocking up on thousands of dollars worth of meth.
Mitchell Charles Mitch Harris, 29, was in the grips of an “out of control” addiction when he was caught buying his next hit outside a known drug house.
The Adelaide District Court heard Harris was stopped by police at Croydon Park in the early hours of July 13, 2020.
They found 7.97g of methamphetamine, a BB gun, $4300 hidden behind the glove box, four mobile phones and prescription drugs.
The value of methamphetamine was between $3990 and $7980.
The court heard Harris had been using an 8-ball of methamphetamine a day for one to two months before the offending.
Harris pleaded guilty to drug trafficking and possessing a firearm.
“I have inferred … that you were in possession of the firearm to protect the methamphetamine and cash which you had in your car,” Judge Michael Durrant said during sentencing.
Marie Shaw QC, for Harris, previously told the court he was caught stocking up on drugs before he went to work.
“It’s fair to say that by the time he got arrested for these offences his addiction was out of control,” she said.
“In the context of his drug addiction he was waiting for the occupant … which was a house known to the police prior to the night as a place where drug use or trafficking may have occurred.”
The court heard Harris was “fascinated with guns” but had now well and truly lost the fascination.
The court heard the gun was inoperable and there were no BB pellets found.
“He was concerned as to who these people were and were they going to rip him off as he goes to approach a house to buy drugs, not to sell drugs,” Ms Shaw said.
The court heard Harris works as a carpenter and owns his own construction business.
The court heard Harris had turned a corner dramatically after his release from custody and was undertaking rehabilitation programs.
Judge Durrant sentenced Harris to two years and five months, with a non-parole period of one year and three months.
“Methamphetamine is a dangerous, insidious drug which causes great harm to those who use it,” he said.
Due to Harris’ family support and rehabilitation prospects, the sentence was suspended on a $1000, two year good behaviour bond.
“You have benefited today from some leniency, I hope you reflect very carefully on what has occurred and take the opportunity that you have been given to continue to turn your life around,” Judge Durrant said.
“It is up to you now.”
TIMOTHY CARLSEN
A man stockpiled $14,000 worth of methylamphetamine hidden in a packet of baby wipes during Covid-19 lockdowns to feed his addiction.
When police searched Timothy Carlsen’s Davoren Park home in 2020 they found 27.71g of powder inside three resealable bags which contained 18.89g of methamphetamine.
They also located two sets of scales and a modest amount of cash.
During sentencing last month, Judge Anthony Allen said the 36-year-old was in the grips of an addiction to methamphetamine at the time of his arrest.
“It was possessed by you for a mixed purpose, only part of that mixed purpose was for sale,” Judge Allen said.
“I accept that the explanation for the amount of the drug present was that you were attempting to stockpile methamphetamine on account of the impact on the Covid pandemic on the methamphetamine supply chain.”
The court heard Carlsen was raised in Zimbabwe before civil war forced his family to flee the country.
“You witnessed soldiers beating civilians and you knew several people who had been murdered,” Judge Allen said.
“As a teenager you would sleep with an AK-47 assault rifle for protection.”
Carlsen was also subjected to a random attack in the Adelaide CBD that caused him to suffer PTSD.
“You were knocked unconscious and suffered facial fractures. You have become hypervigilant as a consequence of this,” Judge Allen said.
Carlsen was sentenced to three years, three months and 24 days imprisonment with a one year and 10 month non-parole period.
Judge Allen suspended the sentence having regard to the defendant’s demonstrated rehabilitation and remorse.
“The period of time that you have served in custody, together with the significant changes that you have made to your life since the commission of these offences warrants a merciful approach to sentence,” he said.
MICHAEL JABBOUR AND ALYSHA FRENCKEN
A young couple’s plan to use a birthday celebration to make money quickly went awry after staff became suspicious of them.
Michael Jabbour, 31, was running the drug enterprise alongside his partner at the time, Alysha Frencken, to fund their habits.
The Adelaide District Court heard Jabbour and Frencken were staying in a room at the St Francis Winery at Old Reynella in August 2020.
“Staff from the winery made various observations about you and two other males in the gaming area who appeared to be spending large amounts of money,” Judge Emily Telfer said during sentencing.
“The staff member also received information from a member of the public about drug dealing.”
CCTV footage revealed there had been frequent visits to Jabbour’s room by people who were not staying there.
Police arrived and searched Jabbour and found methamphetamine and a tick list on him.
They then searched the room and found Frencken who told police there was “juice” in the room and she had a couple of “baggies” in her handbag.
Police found 108g of GHB, also known as fantasy, plastic resealable bags and tick lists.
Jabbour pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drug trafficking.
The court heard Jabbour, who had previously worked in mobile telephone repairs, was introduced to methamphetamine at 23.
“You have for a long time been a reserved person in social settings and you came to use illicit drugs to reduce your social tension and increase your confidence,” Judge Telfer said.
“At the time of this offending you were using illicit drugs on a regular basis and you had developed a dependency.”
The court heard Jabbour and Frencken attended the St Francis winery as part of a birthday celebration to use some of the drugs and sell some.
Frencken, who pleaded guilty to three counts of drug trafficking, was sentenced in December for her role in the offending.
“Judge Press concluded that Ms Frencken’s motivation was primarily funding the drug habit that you and she had, although of course the profit did also fund your accommodation and some of your life expenses,” Judge Telfer said.
Judge Telfer sentenced Jabbour to three years and four months jail, with a non-parole period of one year and eight months.
STEVEN GONOS
A man intercepted by police while dealing drugs at a property they were keeping under surveillance was found with over $8000 worth of GHB and methamphetamine.
Steven Anthony Gonos, 33, was sentenced in the District Court last month charged with drug trafficking after he was found in possession of the drugs in December 2018.
Police intercepted Gonos when he was riding a motorcycle and pulled up alongside a vehicle and appeared to make a transaction.
Officers were keeping the property where the transaction made place under surveillance.
They spoke to Gonos and search a backpack he was carrying.
The court heard Gonos was in possession of 14g of methamphetamine and 266.4g of GHB.
He was also found with $2700 cash and various equipment associated with drug trafficking.
The court heard the methamphetamine was valued at $7000 if sold in points and the value of the GHB was $1300 if sold in millilitres.
Ben Armstrong, for Gonos, told the court the previously law abiding citizen had travelled overseas in 2018 and overspent.
“In order to recover from that position he took in a lodger, Ms Clark,” he said.
“Ms Clark introduced my client to the use of methamphetamine and GHB … from there things escalate.”
Mr Armstrong said Gonos found himself in the throes of a “very significant” addiction and was selling drugs to fund it.
During sentencing, Judge Michael Burnett said the defendant had good prospect of rehabilitation.
He sentenced Gonos to a term of imprisonment of three years, two months and 24 days with a non-parole period of 22 months.
It was suspended on him entering into a good behaviour bond.
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