Mackay Whitsunday drug offenders in court in 2024
More than a dozen faces and names behind some of the region’s dark deals can be revealed. Here are 21 drug offenders who faced court in 2024.
Police & Courts
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More than a dozen faces and names behind some of the region’s dark deals can be revealed. Here are 21 drug offenders who faced court in 2024.
TRAFFICKING
Sam Hennessy
A meth-trafficking mum has learned she will not have to go back to jail after a supreme court judge agreed it would undo all her rehabilitative efforts.
Sam Hennessy had been peddling methylamphetamines to 13 customers for just more than one month between December 2021 and February 2023 in South Mackay.
Crown prosecutor Tiffany Lawrence said this marked a significant escalation in her criminal conduct given her criminal history.
Mackay Supreme Court heard then 27, she ran a wholesale trafficking business, supplying meth 23 times in quantities from one gram to a half ball with the price ranging from $400 to $800.
It was accepted most sales were at street level but a concerning aspect involved trafficking larger amounts to at least four customers she knew planned to onsell the dangerous drug.
Hennessy, now 30, pleaded guilty to trafficking.
She was jailed for 3.5 years, suspended after the 80 days which was declared as time already served.
The suspended sentence will hang over her head for four years. A conviction was recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Caytlin Louise Kennedy
A Mackay meth trafficker has avoided going back to jail for her efforts in running a “busy” street level enterprise that turned over hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Caytlin Louise Kennedy sold ice to at least 27 people over about 15 months between August 2021 and November 2022 in the Mackay region.
Mackay Supreme Court heard the then 33-34 year old mostly sold in street level quantities, but did indicate she had attempted to sell or discussed selling larger amounts, such as up to an ounce.
The court heard a huge sum of money totalling about $242,523 was paid into a bank account under your control, which Justice David North said indicated “the level of the turnover of your business”.
“You were a busy street level trafficker,” he said, adding she was also found possessing a large amount of meth.
She sourced wholesale amount to sell in smaller quantities, but also discussed the purchase of larger amounts for the buyer to then on sell.
Kennedy, 35, pleaded guilty to trafficking meth, aggravated meth possession, possessing smaller amounts of cannabis, testosterone and oxycodone for personal use and refusing to give police access to her phone.
Kennedy was jailed for three years immediately suspended for 3.5 years. She will also have to complete two years probation and convictions were recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
SUPPLYING
Dylan Thomas Desmond Davis
A heavily tattooed drug addict threatened to taser a woman’s dog during a violent backyard attack and while on bail for assault supplied cocaine, GHB and marijuana.
But 18 months later Judge Deborah Richards commended the 27 year old on how much he had changed his life for the better.
Mackay District Court heard the offending occurred in December 2022 and February 2023.
The court heard Davis had been with a mate who had been trying to return some property, and there was a plan in place to go to the person’s home, sneak around the back and throw it through a bedroom window.
However someone had been at the Slade Point home and things went downhill and turned physical – Davis was not involved in the physical clash but he did threaten to taser her dog.
About two months after this incident while on bail, Davis supplied drugs eight times – the drugs included marijuana, GHB and cocaine.
The court heard when police raided his property he was caught with an aggravated quantity of THC, which is more than two grams, as well as various steroids.
Davis pleaded guilty to myriad offences including assault while armed and in company, and multiple counts of supplying and possessing dangerous drugs.
David was jailed for two years with immediate parole and convictions were recorded. He was also ordered to pay $1000 compensation.
FULL STORY HERE
Casey Norder
A teenage cocaine dealer watched his drug-dealing operation come tumbling down because of his inability to look sober in front of police at Airlie Beach.
The Mackay district court heard Lismore-born Casey Norder was clearly under the influence of cocaine when police spotted him stumbling through the night-life district on December 23, 2022.
Causing suspicion, police detained and searched Norder finding several clip-seal bags with drugs in his bum-bag, a $10 note rolled up into a scoop with drug residue and a whopping $3370 in cash.
Despite telling them the drugs in the bags were for ‘personal use’, a subsequent search of his phone revealed he had been working as a small-scale cocaine dealer, occasionally dabbling in cannabis.
The 20 year old former Proserpine State High School student pleaded guilty at an early stage, had no prior criminal history and was clean since his arrest, proving it with drug screenings.
Norder was jailed for 16 months, wholly suspended for a period of 2.5 years, and walked from court a free man. A conviction was recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Vanessa Stringer
A soon-to-be grandmother returned to court for the second time in two years after she was caught supplying a small quantity of meth.
Vanessa Stringer, 46, appeared in Mackay District Court after being charged with possession of meth and supplying drugs.
Stringer’s latest offences began while she was on parole for previous drug offences when, on September 27, 2023 she was charged with possessing and distributing approximately 0.1 gram of meth, after police executed two searches at her home.
Evidence was found on her phone, which Stringer provided the PIN for, co-operating with police.
She was then taken into custody and imprisoned for a total of 134 days between September 2023 and February 2024.
The court heard since Stringer’s release on bail she found employment, sought financial management counselling and was in the position to soon make a deposit on housing.
A character reference from Stringer’s employer was also heard and stated she had been a valuable asset to the business.
Stringer pleaded guilty to all charges and was given a 15-month suspended jail term with two years probation. Convictions were recorded for each charge.
FULL STORY HERE
Kevin Grahame Kent and Billie May Williams
A Mackay duo busted for dealing meth have each avoided a custodial penalty for “facilitating destruction” in other people’s lives.
Kevin Grahame Kent and Billie May Williams were arrested following a raid at an Andergrove home on September 9, 2022 when information on their respective phones revealed their drug dealing efforts.
Police found two instances of supply against Kent, then 31, including the sale of 3.5g, or about an eight ball, of meth for $1250 and then $150 worth of meth to the same person over five days.
Mackay District Court heard there were four counts of meth dealing against Williams, then 24, over two days, including three actual supplies and an offer to supply.
Kent pleaded guilty to two counts of supplying dangerous drugs, and Williams pleaded guilty to four counts of supplying meth, while both pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime and possessing anything for use in the commission of a crime.
Both Kent and Williams were jailed for 15 months with immediate parole. Convictions were recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Keith Douglas Jacklin
A middle-aged truck driver supplied an undercover cop with $67,000 worth of meth and offered to sell a further $55,000 worth.
Between October 8 and December 23, 2021, Keith Douglas Jacklin sold methylamphetamine on four occasions to an officer involved in the dual Mackay police operations Sierra Asteroid and Tango Radar.
One last attempted drug deal on January 11, 2022 was soon followed by sweeping raids across the region the next day, including at Jacklin’s Marian home where police found his phone, a used pipe, methane, plastic bags and a heat sealer.
When the 51 year old faced Mackay District Court, Judge Terry Gardiner described him as a “significant player in the supply of methylamphetamine” despite having no criminal history.
Jacklin pleaded guilty to five counts of meth supply, possession of a phone used for drug deals, and two summary charges of possessing things used in the commission of a drug offence and a used pipe.
He was jailed for five years with immediate parole release after serving 422 days in presentence custody.
FULL STORY HERE
Sakti Ramadhan Dalizar
Police officers have discovered more than a kilogram of marijuana as well as 369 tabs of LSD in envelopes and plastic bags during a raid of a Moranbah home.
Sakti Ramadhan Dalizar faced Mackay Supreme Court on Wednesday where it was heard the search of his address on December 18, 2022 further revealed a mobile phone that showed the then 26 year old planned to sell a “substantial proportion” of the LSD and 1.089kg of marijuana for commercial reward.
Lawyer Robert Beamish, instructed by McKays Solicitors, said Dalizar had since resumed taking medication for anxiety and depression, which he had since a teenager, and he had returned to working for a scrap metal company.
Mr Beamish said Dalizar’s employment involved work at the mines which required him to take regular drug tests that had returned negative results.
Dalizar, now 28, pleaded guilty to eight counts of supplying a dangerous drug, two counts of aggravated drug possession, and one count of possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
He was jailed for three months jail with an immediate parole release, and convictions were recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
POSSESSION
Jarrod Thomas Brown
A Queensland man was in police custody when he was found to have secreted not one, but four different drugs “up his backside”.
Jarrod Thomas Brown was found with LSD, opioid Buprenorphine, anti-anxiety drug Diazepam, and synthetic steroid Stanzold while at the Mackay watch-house between January 22 and 26, 2023.
Police prosecutor Leonie Taufa’ao said the incident was an attempt at “smuggling” the drugs into Capricornia Correctional Centre, but Magistrate Damien Dwyer struck the notion down.
The Mackay Magistrates Court heard there was no dispute Brown had them in his possession.
Brown pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
Brown was jailed for two months, with immediate parole eligibility after serving 105 days in presentence custody. Convictions were recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Matthew Peter Dempsey
A wannabe drug dealer had been released from jail for less than four months when he was busted with a large stash of meth.
Father of three Matthew Peter Dempsey, who was a qualified tradie with a successful business, made the worst decision of his life when he recreationally tried methylamphetamines.
Now he has spent the past 18 months in and out of jail as he continues to commit serious drug crimes.
In fact Dempsey had only been out on parole for about three months and two weeks when police raided a West Mackay home on October 27, 2023 and uncovered 15.95g of a crystal substance containing 9.7g pure methylamphetamine.
The amount was consistent with half an ounce and had a street value of $2500 to $8500.
Mackay Supreme Court heard it was accepted there was a commercial purpose for the drugs, but that some were for his personal use.
Dempsey pleaded guilty to aggravated drug possession.
He was jailed for 2.5 years jailed with immediate parole eligibility. A conviction was recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Rheannen May Connolly
A convicted meth dealer will be on parole until 2028 after she was busted with more drugs and nearly ran down a police officer.
In July 2022 then 27-year-old Rheannen May Connolly was given a chance to turn her life around after pleading guilty to trafficking for about 10 months in 2020.
At the time Justice Graeme Crow accepted her remorse was genuine but warned she had to turn her back on drugs otherwise she would go to jail, and sentenced her to three years imprisonment with immediate parole.
Fast forward 12 months to July 2023, Connolly is still on parole and was in the driver’s seat with drugs in her system and an aggravated quantity of meth in her handbag when police activated lights and sirens and parked directly in front of her vehicle.
A search revealed 2.869g of pure meth in a clip seal bag in a black handbag, and a used pipe.
She pleaded guilty to a raft of charges including aggravated meth possession, dangerous driving and driving with drugs in her system. It was accepted the meth was for her own personal use.
She was jailed for three years jail, cumulative to the earlier three years, with parole eligibility on December 21, 2024. Convictions were recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Dieter Dean Stephens
A young Mackay man was busted with drugs, seven stolen firearms and $84,000 has to forfeit the cash as his crime spree is revealed.
When police picked up the 26 year old after a traffic incident on Shakespeare St about 11.30am on July 20, 2023 after Tactical Crime Squad officers had pulled up behind a white Holden Cruze.
Mackay Magistrates Court heard as a result convicted drug offender Dieter Dean Stephens was caught with seven firearms and 3.3g pure meth, which Magistrates Bronwyn Hartigan labelled the most serious of the raft of charges.
Stephens then prevented police from accessing his phone by refusing to give up his passcode, which Ms Hartigan said was the next most serious charge.
He pleaded guilty to 14 charges including possessing an aggravated quantity of meth and tainted cash, assault causing bodily harm, possessing stolen weapons including firearms, a chainsaw and diagnostic tools and refusing access to his phone.
He was jailed for 18 months with immediate parole release because of time already served on remand.
FULL STORY HERE
Carmen Leigh Shadbolt
A Mackay mum with a chequered past fell back into old ways and made the mistake of trying to hide her friend’s drugs when they were pulled over.
Carmen Leigh Shadbolt was a passenger in a car pulled over on April 7, 2023 when police found two clip seal bags of meth in her bra – with 1.63g and 3.46g of substance of about 74 per cent purity.
Her barrister Scott Moon said the drugs had not been hers, but she had made the “silly decision” to accept them when another occupant of the car handed them to her.
She pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs and was jailed for 18 months with immediate parole. Convictions were recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Kelli-Ann Dair
A Mackay region mother of three was just 0.236g of pure meth away from a jail cell and getting the title of being a drug trafficker, the court was told.
Kelli-Ann Dair faced Mackay District Court where it was heard she supplied meth on five occasions, for a “total of 10 points”, with a police search at her address on March 23 finding 1.764g of pure meth in 2.335g of “white crystal substance”.
Officers also found a glass pipe, straws, empty clip seal bags, digital scales and a debit card not belonging to Dair.
She had only the month before in court been placed on a four month good behaviour bond for possessing meth and scales.
Dair pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing tainted property, utensils or pipes that had been used, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, and five counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
She was jailed for 12 months with immediate parole and recorded convictions for all offences.
FULL STORY HERE
Aaron Mark Carpenter
A Bowen Basin miner who already avoided spending more time in jail after he was busted with a mega haul of MDMA, cash and diamonds has “played the game” and lost when he was caught with more drugs.
As a result Aaron Mark Carpenter breached a five-year suspended term of imprisonment and was lashed by Supreme Court Justice Graeme Crow, who warned him next time he would go straight to jail.
Unfortunately for him, Carpenter previously appeared before Justice Crow in May 2022 on his original charges including aggravated drug possession for which he was jailed for five years suspended immediately because he had already served 101 days in presentence custody.
“I gave you a good chance,” Justice Crow told him when he reappeared after breaching his suspended jail sentence when he was busted trying to conceal a stash of marijuana in his mouth.
Police saw him acting suspiciously in Spring Hill – when officers asked him what he was concealing he tried to swallow the item.
Since then he had gotten a legal prescription and has never failed a drug test while at work. Justice Crow found his latest offending was extremely low level.
The five year jail term was partially activated and Carpenter was released on immediate parole.
FULL STORY HERE
Johnathon Jeffrey O’Brien
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 clip seal bag while retrieving the knife.
Justice David North said the bag 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 your own gratification, but a portion of it was to be sold to others,” he said.
He pleaded guilty in Mackay Supreme Court to possessing more than two grams of meth, obstructing a police officer, and assaulting a police officer.
O’Brien was sentenced to 18 months for drug possession and 14 days for the obstruct and assault charges.
FULL STORY HERE
CONVICTIONS NOT RECORDED
Samuel John Baretta
A Mackay magistrate heard about a young man’s struggle with mental health and addiction which ultimately led to him being caught with cocaine and marijuana, and drug driving twice.
Samuel John Baretta, 25, was driving in West Mackay on June 29, 2024 when he was randomly pulled over by patrolling police and returned a positive roadside drug test for meth, marijuana and cocaine.
After a search of his car they found around 5 grams of marijuana. About six weeks later he was stopped again and police caught him possessing about six grams of cocaine.
He pleaded guilty to all charges and was handed two years probation, 200 hours community service and fined $1300. Convictions were not recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Collette Hannah Burt
A 24-year-old woman told a court her ex-partner had been murdered, and this loss caused her drug spiral.
Collette Hannah Burt was found with five clip seal bags of methamphetamine, a number of bags containing green leafy material, five Viagra tablets, syringes and a glass pipe in her handbag on January 3, 2024 at Bucasia.
Mackay Magistrates Court heard a concealed compartment in her computer hardrive also hid subutex tablets, which includes the opioid substitute buprenorphine.
Burt pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs, possessing used drug utensils, possessing controlled medicines, and failing to properly dispose of a syringe.
Burt was fined $1000, referred to SPER, with no convictions recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Benjamin Paul Flohr
A 23-year-old described by his own mother as “untrustworthy and reliable” was living in “squalor” while dealing methamphetamine.
Solicitor Steven Hayles told Mackay District Court Benjamin Paul Flohr was working for his parent’s cattle grazing operation and staying at the homestead on their Mt Dilligen station, a 18,210ha property west of Moranbah.
Crown prosecutor Shannon Sutherland said a police search of the property on February 9, 2023, revealed Flohr had in his possession three metal silencers, ammunition, a water pipe, three glass pipes, a Nokia mobile revealing two separate sales of meth at one “point” each.
Flohr pleaded guilty to possessing a category R weapon, possessing utensils or pipes used in connection with a dangerous drug, possession of an object used in commission of a crime, not having authority for explosives, and two counts of supplying dangerous drugs.
He was given 18 months’ probation, “somewhat reluctantly” and convictions were not recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
Simonne Latetia Louise Jeffs
A bottle shop attendant had just been holding onto a stash of marijuana for a mate to pass on to someone else when she was caught up in a police sting.
Simonne Latetia Louise Jeffs wasn’t the main target of police attention when she was arrested for supplying dangerous drugs in early 2024.
In fact her lawyer argued it was a different type of supply given she was not onselling to support a habit, Mackay Magistrates Court heard.
“It’s a different category of case in that she was holding it and then supplied it to essentially a drug dealer who was being watch by police,” Barron and Allen Lawyers solicitor Aaron Sellentin said.
Jeffs, a 45-year-old Mackay woman, pleaded guilty to seven charges committed between November 6, 2023 and January 19, 2024 including two counts of supplying marijuana (one ounce and then six ounces) and possessing a small quantity of methylamphetamines.
Magistrate Michelle Howard accepted Jeffs role in the supply offending was organising the handover of drugs for a friend.
Ultimately Ms Howard determined a nine-month probation order was appropriate and convictions were not recorded.
FULL STORY HERE
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