Jacentah Emma-Jane Bobongie sentenced for police assault, obstruct police

A Queensland woman claims she was worried when she answered her front door wearing just a towel and saw ‘two large male cops’. Read how she reacted.

A Queensland woman said she was worried when she answered her front door to “two large male cops” in just a towel and admitted to threatening them when they entered.

A Queensland woman claims she was worried when she answered her front door in just a towel to police and admitted to threatening them when they entered her home.

Jacentah Emma-Jane Bobongie has faced Mackay Magistrates Court multiple times for previous charges of armed robbery and car theft.

ATSILS lawyer Robyn Cathcart said her 35-year-old client had “instinctively closed the door because there were two large male cops” because she was “worried about her state of undress”.

Ms Cathcart said Bobongie admitted she raised her fist, but told the court her client had “no intention of following that (threat) through”.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said when people ordinarily closed doors on police officers it was because “they want to put something down the toilet”.

“Police wouldn’t tell her what was going on,” Ms Cathcart said.

“So my client was understandably upset.

“Her work references attest to the fact that she has turned her life around.

Jacentah Emma-Jane Bobongie has pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court.

“She’s making really good gains and her references say they are very happy to have Ms Bobongie working for them.”

Police prosecutor Sergeant Linden Pollard said officers had gone to her Andergrove home late on July 8, 2023 to arrest her for a different charge.

Ms Cathcart said “the tragic part” of the night was the charge causing the arrest warrant was later withdrawn by the complainant.

Bobongie plead guilty to common assault, obstruct police, and assault police.

“Police asked if (she’d) like to put some clothes on, (Bobongie) replied ‘Yes’ and began shutting the door in the face of the officer and holding it shut,” Sergeant Pollard said.

“Police were able to open the door and tell her she was under arrest.

Jacentah Emma-Jane Bobongie pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court.

“She made her way toward the bedroom and pulled out chairs in front of the officers to obstruct them.

“Defendant began shouting … ‘c--t I should slog you’ … while making these comments (she) moved her right hand into a fist as though she was about to punch (the officer) causing him to flinch.”

The court heard a female officer was stationed with Bobongie while she changed before she was taken to Mackay watch-house.

Magistrate Dwyer said Bogongie’s early plea spoke to her intentions and said he hoped she had “seen the light”.

She was sentenced to a $500 fine to be paid within seven days.