‘Architect of his own misery’: 19-year-old Dalby man to remain behind bars after week-long crime spree

A police prosecutor has told a 19-year-old Dalby man he wasn't buying his excuses after he was found in possession of homemade firearm during a week-long crime spree.

Reagan Karlish, 19, appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to 11 offences including weapons and drug charges.

A young Dalby man has offered police a series of bizarre excuses after he was found with a homemade gun tucked down his pants.

Reagan Karlish, 19, appeared in Dalby Magistrates Court from prison on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to 11 offences which occurred between December 28 and January 7.

The range of offences included public nuisance, obstructing police, possessing methamphetamine, possessing a knife and the most serious, possessing a firearm.

Karlish’s crime spree began on December 28 when a vehicle he was a passenger in was intercepted by police, with a search revealing a knife at his feet. Karlish also swore at and abused police during the search.

The following day Karlish had another interaction with police who noted he appeared to be under the influence of drugs.

Karlish told police “this is bulls--t, f--k off”, threatened to kill the officers and then ran off.

A week later Karlish was again intercepted by police who discovered him in possession of 0.1g of methamphetamine, ammunition and a homemade gun constructed from a length of pipe and a spring.

Karlish initially told police the gun was a soldering tool before changing his tune and saying it was a gun which he had found along with the ammunition.

Police prosecutor Chris Hutchins described the excuse as “absurd”.

“I’m a lot older than Mr Karlish and never once have I found a gun on the floor and if I did I sure as hell wouldn't pick it up, get my fingerprints all over it and carry it around for 24 hours,” he told the court.

Following the offending Karlish was granted bail which he immediately breached three times, ending up behind bars.

Magistrate Kathleen Payne described Karlish as the “architect of his own misery” and sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, with 162 days declared time served.

A parole release date was set for January 8 2026 and a conviction was recorded.