Zachary Michael Michel pleads guilty to possessing and supplying MDMA at Cannonvale
Police spotted the 21-year-old Whitsunday man acting suspiciously.
Police & Courts
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A young man hid in the toilets with drugs stashed in his undies after police spotted him acting suspiciously.
Zachary Michael Michel told officers he was just “helping out a friend” when he agreed to supply 10 ecstasy caps.
Police saw the 21 year old speaking with someone on March 13, 2020 at Cannonvale shopping centre and believed he was acting in a suspicious manner.
Mackay District Court heard when officers approached Michel hid in the toilets as the other person “fled on a skateboard”.
Officers waited for Michel to leave the toilet facilities and then detained him – a search of his phone uncovered messages where he agreed to help supply 10 ecstasy caps for $250.
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“There is no evidence (Michel) would have received any benefit from the sale,” Crown legal officer Emily Thambyah said.
“When questioned by police, he denied he was dealing drugs and said he was helping out a friend from the hostel.”
The court heard he was also caught with 0.854 grams of MDMA, which was stashed in his underwear.
“In my submission the only reason the sale did not eventuate was due to police intervention,” Ms Thambyah said.
“He appears to be someone that readily had access to MDMA.”
Michel pleaded guilty to supplying and possessing MDMA. The court heard he was a young, first time offender and he entered an early guilty plea.
Ms Thambyah pushed for community service and or probation to “denounce his conduct and act as a deterrent to him”.
Defence barrister Stephen Byrne said his young client was well regarded by family, friends and his employers.
The court heard Michel used marijuana fortnightly but only used MDMA “from time to time and not regularly”.
Mr Byrne agreed with probation and community service and requested no conviction be recorded.
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“In Queensland you don’t have to actually hand over the dangerous drug to be guilty of the offence of supply,” Judge Ian Dearden told Michel.
Judge Dearden explained it had a broad definition that included agreeing or helping to supply drugs.
“It’s a broad definition because it’s designed to catch people exactly like you,” Judge Dearden said.
Michael was placed on 15 months probation and ordered to complete 100 hours community service in 12 months.
Judge Dearden included a special condition, Michel must remain drug free during the order and will be subject to random drug testing.
Convictions were not recorded.
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