Bronwyn Louise Buxton jailed for marijuana production

Two others are yet to front court over the drug production and police say the childcare provider could not have been “ignorant of such an elaborate set up”.

Bronwyn Louise Buxton, 41, had no criminal record when she fronted Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Friday, 15 September, and pleaded guilty to seven charges from the raid.

She had a 21-year career in the childcare industry but it all came undone when police raided her family home, finding a drug production set up by a relative. Now she can no longer work with children.

Bronwyn Louise Buxton, 41, had no criminal record when she fronted Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Friday, 15 September, and pleaded guilty to seven charges from the raid.

The court heard the Rockhampton born and bred woman’s co-property owner and husband has also been charged over the raid and his next court date is in October.

A third family member has yet to be charged.

Police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said while police, who raided Buxton’s home on June 25, 2023, could not ascertain her level of involvement in the production, they had ascertained she was not the primary perpetrator.

He said she could not have been “ignorant of such an elaborate set up”.

Magistrate Grace Kahlert said police found two grow tents in a spare bedroom of Buxton’s home and containers of marijuana seeds, along with 23 plants outside with a hydroponic system set up and 29 grams of marijuana in a jar in the study.

She said police also located a shot gun near the marijuana plants and ammunition in the laundry.

Defence lawyer David Mills said his client and her husband had a “falling out” with the third person with the third person leaving their property and police raiding it shortly afterwards.

He said Buxton and her husband own a 500 acre property.

Mr Mills said she had worked as a childcare provider, working in the industry for 21 years, but due to the conviction recorded by the court for this offending, she would lose her Blue Card and unable to continue working in that industry.

Buxton pleaded guilty to one count each of producing a dangerous drug, possessing a dangerous drug, possessing explosives, possessing a weapon, possessing anything used in a crime and contravene a direction about accessing information stored electronically.

She was sentenced to three months prison, wholly suspended and operational for nine months with a conviction automatically recorded.

Buxton was also placed on a two year probation order.