Mackay and Whitsunday drink or drug-drivers named and shamed

They had too much to drink, or took an illicit substance, before getting behind the wheel of a car. Read the list of Mackay and Whitsunday drink and drug-drivers who faced court this week.

They had too much to drink, or took an illicit substance, before getting behind the wheel of a car. Read the list of Mackay and Whitsunday drink and drug-drivers who faced court this week.

No conviction recorded

Ethan Andrew McKechnie

A group did not comprehend the concept of ‘designated drivers’ when they elected Ethan Andrew McKechnie to lead the carpool back home from a popular swimming spot.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court McKechnie and four of his friends were stopped on Anzac Ave in Marian for a random drug test on November 13, 2021.

The Marian man’s saliva tested positive to marijuana at 8.30pm, and McKechnie told police he had smoked “two or three cones” at Finch Hatton.

The provisional driver said he hoped he’d keep his job if he lost his licence, but Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he was “in the lap of the gods”.

After pleading guilty to drug-driving and telling the court “it was the worst mistake of his life”, McKechnie was fined $600 and was disqualified from driving for five months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Neil Leslie Warren

A golfer who was a bit too keen to hit the course will spend the next six weeks carrying his clubs after he was caught drink-driving.

Neil Leslie Warren was pulled over after police clocked him travelling 86km/h in a 60km/h zone on November 27, 2021.

The 60 year old said he was used to that section of the Bruce Highway being an 80km/h zone, despite construction signs indicating a reduced limit.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court the officers tested his breath, which returned a reading of 0.079 per cent.

Warren told police he had consumed 10-12 mid-strength Great Northern cans the night before his 7am golf trip, and thought he was fine to drive.

He pleaded guilty to drink-driving on January 17, was fined $750 on top of the $459 speeding ticket and disqualified from driving for six weeks.

A conviction was not recorded.

Jonathan Ah Boo Samuel Ah Wang

A father of three was caught out on a late night Tuesday drive when he tested positive to a roadside drug test.

Jonathan Ah Boo Samuel Ah Wang was driving a red Toyota when he was pulled over in South Mackay at 11.20pm on November 16.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard Ah Wang tested positive to methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer asked the father how he had been dealing with his drug issues since.

Ah Wang said as he was the primary caregiver of his children, he had been staying home and away from temptations.

Mr Dwyer said that attitude “wouldn’t help” and advised Ah Wang to seek support.

“It’s six months down the track when you’re out with your mates, that’s when you’ve got to decide not to do it,” Mr Dwyer said.

“No one’s going to knock on your door and help you with your drug addiction, you need to get off your backside and do it.”

Ah Wang pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court on January 19 to drug-driving.

He was disqualified from driving for five months and fined $650.

No conviction was recorded.

Joshua Lee Stevens

A Christmas Eve breath test put Joshua Lee Stevens on the naughty list after returning a reading almost three times the legal alcohol limit.

Joshua Lee Stevens had consumed “10 stubbies” of beer an hour before he was stopped for a breath test at 1.30am in Slade Point.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court the Lamberts Lookout Rd breath test returned a reading of 0.147 BAC.

The 29 year old, who has three kids under five years old, said he was trying to get away from his wife and kids after a dispute at home.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said it was going to be “a fair pushbike ride from Erakala (Stevens’ home address) to Bakers Creek (Stevens’ workplace address) everyday”.

“It was your choice,” he said.

“Your reading was substantial, it was almost three times the limit.”

Stevens pleaded guilty to drink-driving, was fined $750 and was disqualified from driving for seven months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Brendon Isau

A civil engineering student was caught after a big New Year’s Eve when blew over the limit twice in one day.

Brendon Isau told police he had been at a house party during the evening of December 31 and later went to the Rabbit Hole nightclub in Mackay until about 2am on January 1.

About 6am that day, Isau was breathalysed at a static station on Barnes Creek Rd Mackay, returning a reading of 0.113 BAC and was suspended from driving.

Less than two hours later the student was caught driving again on Wood St where he blew again blew over the alcohol limit recording 0.112 BAC.

Isau told the court, “I thought I was sober.”

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said he did not accept that, telling the student he was “nearly three times the limit”.

Isau pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court on January 19 to driving without a license and two counts of drink-driving.

Isua was disqualified from driving for three years and was fined $2200.

Convictions were not recorded.

Daniel Morlai Johnson-Kanu

A construction worker found himself on the wrong side of the law when he went for a late night snack on December 18.

Mackay Magistrates court heard police spotted Daniel Morlai Johnson-Kanu driving “the wrong way around a roundabout” on Village Circuit in Eimeo about 12.40am.

The construction worker told police he had been on the way to get some food from a fast food restaurant.

Police breathalysed Johnson-Kanu who returned a reading of 0.067 BAC.

Johnson-Kanu told the court he had not been driving the wrong way on the roundabout, but had rather driven across the roundabout.

He pleaded guilty in Mackay Magistrates Court on January 19 to drink-driving.

Johnson-Kanu was suspended from driving for one month and fined $350.

The conviction was not recorded.

Conviction recorded

Arden Rodney Altmann

An asbestos remover and roof safety installer was busted drug-driving on a main Mackay street.

Arden Rodney Altmann was pulled over on Milton St for a traffic stop on December 12, 2021.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Hannah Beaumont told Mackay Magistrates Court that during the 11.50am routine stop, officers noticed Altmann’s “bloodshot, erratic eyes” and asked him if he had consumed any drugs.

He told police at the scene he had taken “ice and weed”.

He was taken to Mackay Base Hospital for analysis, where a sample confirmed methylamphetamines and marijuana were in his system.

Altmann pleaded guilty to drug-driving, received a $1000 fine and was disqualified from driving for 12 months.

A conviction was recorded.

Ernst Josef Holstein

A Whitsunday retiree had been playing “the devil’s buttons” before police watched him walk from the pub and get behind the wheel of his car.

Ernst Josef Holstein had been driving since he was 16 years old, and had never once been charged with drink-driving.

The 72 year old had been having a drink while playing the pokies at the Reef Gateway Hotel before he decided to get behind the wheel.

Proserpine Magistrates Court heard police watched him walk from the venue to his car about 7.10pm on December 27.

His returned a 0.074 per cent BAC. The court heard he would have difficulty driving to Bowen each week to visit his wife in a care facility.

Holstein pleaded guilty to low range drink-driving. He was convicted and fined $300, and disqualified from driving for one month.

Jayden Anthony Tortora

A repeat offender is on the “cusp of going to prison” after his third drug-driving charge in four months.

Jayden Anthony Tortora was stopped at 12.10pm on December 7, and returned a positive drug test.

Police prosecutor David Epstein told the court Tortora’s result came back with methylamphetamines detected in his saliva.

The court heard police also searched Tortora’s car, finding a glass pipe and a set of scales.

When police asked Tortora to produce a licence, he said he could not as it had been suspended on November 2, 2021.

Magistrate Damien Dwyer said Tortora was a repeat offender.

“You’re on the cusp of going to prison,” he said.

“It’s your third driving offence in four months.”

Tortora pleaded guilty to drug-driving and possessing utensils, was fined $2600 and disqualified for 12 months.

Because he drove on a disqualified licence, he was also suspended from driving for a further two years, meaning he will not get his licence back until March 2025.

A conviction was recorded.

Corey Michael Galbraith

A long term drug user told Magistrate James Morton he had been injecting meth for up to 10 years.

Cory Michael Galbraith had been stopped in Bowen during a random police intercept at 8.19pm in December 2021.

Tests revealed the 49 year old had both meth and marijuana in his system and a used syringe was also found in the vehicle.

“It’s old sir,” Galbraith told Bowen Magistrates Court when he pleaded guilty to driving with a relevant drug in his saliva or blood and failing to properly dispose of a needle and syringe.

“How long have you been putting needles in your arm?” Mr Morton asked Galbraith.

“Five to 10 years sir,” he replied.

On learning Galbraith’s age, Mr Morton said, “you look 79”.

“Have you got all your teeth?” Mr Morton asked, to which Galbraith indicated “no”.

Galbraith was convicted and fined $800, and disqualified from driving for six months.

Sally Lee Faram

The death of her father was the reason Sarah Lee Faram tested positive to drug-driving

Faram was stopped in Andergrove in the early hours of November 12, and submitted to a roadside drug test.

Police prosecutor Harry Coburn told Mackay Magistrates Court on January 17, 2022, the mother returned a positive reading for methylamphetamines in her system.

She made admissions to police at the time of “smoking ice”, and said in court she had been clean since the stop.

“I lost my father and I went back to old ways,” she said.

“I haven’t touched it since.”

After Faram pleaded guilty to drug-driving, Magistrate Damien Dwyer fined her $600 and disqualified her from driving for four months.

A conviction was recorded.