Casey Timm, Rachael Boman: Engaged couple sentenced in Ipswich District Court for drug crimes

Nearly two years after police discovered 685g of cannabis, 1.5g of cocaine, and $13,000 cash in the home of an engaged couple, the pair have appeared in court to be sentenced for their drug crimes.

An engaged couple have appeared in an Ipswich court after police discovered more than 600g of cannabis in the home they shared, as well as pure cocaine and $13,000 cash.

Inala woman Rachael Patricia Boman, 25, and Yeppoon man Casey James Stanley Timm, 27, appeared together in Ipswich District Court on Wednesday June 15 on a number of drug charges.

Boman pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing cocaine, producing cannabis, and possessing more than 500g of cannabis, while Timm pleaded guilty to one count each of trafficking cannabis, possessing cocaine, producing cannabis, possessing more than 500g of cannabis, possessing a phone used in connection with trafficking, and possessing money obtained in trafficking.

The court heard police searched the Ipswich home shared by Boman and Timm on July 16, 2020 and they both made admissions to “some” of the offending; Timm telling police he had cannabis plants in the house and Boman explaining some of the cannabis was for her own use.

The officers uncovered a total of 685.8g of cannabis in the couple’s home, as well as a clip-seal bag containing 2.4g of substance — of which 1.585g was pure cocaine —, three cannabis plants and an “unsophisticated” hydroponic set-up, and $13,000 cash.

Crown prosecutor Amy Stannard said police subsequently seized and searched Timm’s phone and found that he had been using it to traffick cannabis.

Yeppoon man Casey James Stanley Timm, 27, and Inala woman Rachael Patricia Boman, 25.

The proceeds of the 27-year-old’s trafficking business are not known but, Ms Stannard said, were “at least in part” used to support his own drug habit.

“In terms of Ms Boman’s criminality, the Crown accepts that her joint possession of the cannabis and the cocaine was for her personal use,” Ms Stannard said.

“And she’s a party to the production charge, having knowledge of it and accessing cannabis for her own use.”

The court heard Timm operated the mostly-“street level” business for about 12 months between July 2019 and July 2020, participating in “at least” 145 transactions and supplying to more than 25 customers.

It is understood the amount of cannabis he sold at any one time ranged from 1g for $15 to 1lb for $4600.

Ms Stannard the young man was “somewhat cooperative” with police, but did initially deny selling cannabis for money. Timm told police the $13,000 found in his home was his own superannuation that he had withdrawn from the bank.

The prosecution accepted his possession of cannabis was for commercial reasons, while his possession of cocaine and the production offence related to his own personal use.

Yeppoon man Casey James Stanley Timm, 27, and Inala woman Rachael Patricia Boman, 25.

Timm’s counsel Allana Davie told the court her client used the cannabis to self-medicate his anxiety and stress.

“He has now applied for and I understand has been approved ... to be on the medicinal cannabis program,” Ms Davie said.

She said he hoped to return to working with machinery and asked Judge Dennis Lynch QC to consider that he had been on bail for nearly two years by Wednesday and had not breached his conditions.

Likewise, defence barrister Justin Thomas said Boman hoped to re-engage with the workforce. The court heard she lost her last job when she was charged with the drug offences.

Boman was also said to need, and is now prescribed, medicinal cannabis as she suffers a condition called ‘cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome’ which causes her to be “violently ill” from time to time. Mr Thomas explained the condition had come about as a result of her long-term cannabis use.

Judge Dennis Lynch said he had taken into consideration the facts, the seriousness of the offending, the couple’s young ages, excellent employment prospects, pleas of guilty, and limited criminal histories when deciding appropriate penalties.

He sentenced Timm to two years’ imprisonment to be wholly suspended for an operational period of two years. Convictions were recorded for each offence.

Boman was ordered to serve 12 months’ probation with no conviction recorded.