Johnathon Jeffrey O’Brien pleads guilty to drug possession, police assault

A man recognised by patrolling police officers assaulted a cop before throwing a knife and a large quantity of meth into a nearby front yard in a failed attempt to flee his arrest.

A man recognised by patrolling police officers assaulted one before throwing a knife and a large quantity of meth into a nearby front yard.

A Mackay man threw a knife and $15,000 worth of meth over a fence as he tried to escape arrest by assaulting a police officer.

An arrest warrant had been issued for Johnathon Jeffrey O’Brien when police spotted him parked outside an address in Andergrove on July 26, 2023.

The then 42 year old had a long criminal history and was on parole when officers found the clipseal bag while retrieving the knife.

Justice David North said the baggie was filled with 22.723g substance comprising of 17.042g pure meth, valued between $3000 and $15,000 “depending on how it was marketed”.

“There was a commercial aspect to your possession (as) you were likely intending to use some of the methylamphetamine for ur own gratification, but a portion of it was to be sold to others,” he said.

“It is aggravating and serious (that) your offending occurred when you were already on parole for serious drug offending.

“Your criminal history records a long history of repeated offending involving drugs (so) you could be described as a recidivist drug offender.

“And I hold that view.”

The court heard O’Brien had been on parole after facing Mackay Supreme Court for drug trafficking in 2022 and Rockhampton Supreme court for possession in 2019.

Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said successive serious offending had left him with a sentence of more than eight years of imprisonment.

Ms Lawrence said both she and O’Brien’s defence agreed a head sentence of 2.5 to 3 years would be suitable but, given his lengthy existing sentences, said 18 months would be suitable - and bring his term of imprisonment up to 10 years and 3 months.

He pleaded guilty in Mackay Supreme Court to possessing more than two grams of meth, obstructing a police officer, and assaulting a police officer.

Defence barrister Scott McLennan said O’Brien had made much progress with his rehabilitation after reaching out to parole support officers while in custody.

Justice North agreed O’Brien’s rehabilitation efforts were “not only to his credit, it’s also in the community’s interest”.

O’Brien was sentenced to 18 months for drug possession and 14 days for the obstruct and assault charges.

Convictions were recorded and a serious drug offence certificate issued.