Hervey Bay’s Joe Antony Drobny sentenced for drug trafficking

For two weeks, a Hervey Bay drug dealer sold thousands of dollars worth of meth and marijuana. But a ‘hopeless lie’ and simple clue would bring his fledgling business undone.

Joe Antony Drobny's career as a drug dealer was shortlived.

For two weeks, a Hervey Bay man had a thriving business, selling drugs to 26 different customers and making thousands of dollars.

His fortunes quickly changed however when he was a passenger in the car during a random police check.

Joe Antony Drobny, 24, pleaded guilty in Maryborough Supreme Court to one count of drug trafficking.

The court heard Drobny’s offending came to light when police stopped a white Hyundai Elantra, in which he was a passenger.

Drobny appeared “nervous and fidgety” the court was told.

Police searched the car and found clip seal bags and scales.

He told police the items were for coin collecting, which Justice Graeme Crow described as a “shallow lie, a hopeless lie”.

An examination of Drobny’s phone soon revealed the items’ true purpose.

Police found evidence of 26 customers and numerous drug deals for both meth and marijuana, which Drobny had sold for thousands of dollars.

Joe Antony Drobny previously pleaded guilty to one count of possessing a knife in a public place when he faced Hervey Bay Magistrates Court.

The drugs had been sold in “street level” quantities of up to a gram over 14 days, during which his defending, as described by the Crown prosecutor, was “quite intense” and resulted in about $4000 worth of sales.

In his favour, the court heard that while Drobny had dropped out of school in Year 10 and had a limited employment history, in his current job he was considered a valued employee.

His employers were in court supporting the young man.

The court heard he was making efforts to turn his life around and while he struggled with reading, writing and comprehension, once he did comprehend what was needed, he was a “very good worker”.

Drobny had already spent 80 days in presentence custody leading up to his court appearance.

It would be “unfortunate and unnecessary” to place him in further custody”, his defence barrister argued.

However, Justice Crow said having reviewed Drogny’s extensive five page criminal history, he was surprised he had been able to avoid a prison term prior to this offending.

“He’s been given so many chances it’s quite ridiculous,” he said.

“Meth causes massive problems in our society.”

He accepted Drobny had done his best to abstain from drugs in the past year.

But he feared the leniency Drobny had previously been shown meant he had not learnt from his crimes.

“It’s all a bit too easy, a bit of a joke, then get back to it,” he said.

While his criminal record was against him, Justice Crow said Drobny was still young and he was hopeful his 80 days in custody had been a wake up call for him.

He warned him there would be no further chances.

Drobny was sentenced to three years in prison but immediately released on parole.