Samantha Lee Zuch sentenced on drug charges after failed gold heist

A woman previously jailed for trying to steal $12k in gold ingots learned her fate after she threatened to burn down child safety in a phone call late last year.

One of the criminals behind a plot to steal gold from a man after distracting him with the prospect of a threesome learned her fate after being busted with drugs.

One of the criminals behind a plot to steal gold from a man after distracting him with the prospect of a threesome learned her fate after being busted with drugs.

Samantha Lee Zuch, appearing from prison, faced charges of possessing dangerous drugs, pipes and threatening to “burn down child safety” over the phone.

The offending took place between August 23, 2023 and December 6, 2024 and began when police searched her Napier St address and found a gram of marijuana and water pipe.

Mackay Magistrates Court heard the search warrant was executed following Zuch’s previous offending where she hatched a scheme to steal $12,000 worth of gold ingots from a man at a Nebo Rd Hotel on August 10, 2023.

Police searched Zuch’s Napier St residence and found marijuana as well as a water pipe.

On January 21, 2024 police intercepted a red Mazda sedan in the front yard of Zuch’s Napier St residence and while testing her for drugs she threw two bags into the backyard and later told police she had a pipe in the bag.

The court heard the final offending came about on December 6, 2024 when at 5.15pm a child safety employee told police they’d received a phone call from Zuch who said “I'm giving up, I want to burn down child safety”.

Zuch led the victim to the hotel room’s shower and performed a sexual act on him while her co-offender searched for the gold.

Zuch pleaded guilty to charges of obstructing police, possessing utensils, possessing dangerous drugs and using a carriage service to menace, harass or cause offence.

She is serving out a three-year term of imprisonment with a parole release date set for August 28, 2025 after she tried to steal gold from a man to feed her drug addiction.

In a scheme District Judge Gregory Lynham referred to as “lame-brained” she brought a friend to the Nebo Rd hotel to partake in a threesome with the victim.

While she took the victim into the room’s shower and performed sexual acts, her friend searched for the gold outside.

When the victim grew suspicious, he was confronted by two male co-offenders who restrained him.

Ultimately the plan was foiled and Zuch was apprehended by police.

Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan said up until that robbery Zuch had a limited criminal record.

Zuch was convicted and not further punished for a number of charges and placed on a 12-month good behaviour bond.

Zuch, representing herself, told Ms Hartigan her threats to child safety were caused by her drug use, “mental issues and my own choices at the time”.

Ms Hartigan said the threats were made because she was “clearly very upset”.

“I’m of the view that you didn’t have any intention to actually burn down child safety,” Ms Hartigan said.

For offences committed on August 23, 2023 and January 21, 2024 Zuch was convicted and not further punished.

She was put on a good behaviour bond for using a carriage service to threaten a child safety officer for 12 months, expiring on April 16, 2026.

“You’ve got time to reflect now … you have to be of good behaviour for 12 months,” Ms Hartigan said.

Convictions were recorded.