Christopher Joseph Talovic sentenced in court for possessing a dangerous drug and weapons

A drug user fled from Queensland to Western Australia while on bail after police found methamphetamine and weapons in his home. Read what happened in court.

A drug user fled from Queensland to Western Australia while on bail after police found methamphetamine and weapons in his home at Hervey Bay.

Christopher Joseph Talovic, 37, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton on February 16 to one count each of possessing a dangerous drug in excess of 2g and possessing weapons.

Crown prosecutor Jennifer O’Brien said police searched Talovic’s home at Hervey Bay on October 28, 2019, and found a loaded shotgun on the table near where Talovic was standing.

Ms O’Brien said inside the home police also found 13.26g of pure meth in 19.587g of substance, a revolver, digital scales and a pipe.

Christopher Joseph Talovic, 37, appeared in the Rockhampton Supreme Court on February 16.

She said Talovic told police he had not been home that day and had friends staying while he wasn’t there.

Ms O’Brien said when Talovic was questioned about his neighbours noticing his presence, he changed his story to say he had been home a few times.

Justice Graeme Crow noted Talovic failed to appear in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court after being granted bail.

Justice Crow said Talovic had fled to Western Australia where he committed a number of offences on New Year’s Eve in 2019.

The court heard Talovic had drugs in his system while driving a stolen vehicle and that he failed to stop and was pursued by police.

Justice Crow said Talovic was sentenced to 20 months’ prison.

Ms O’Brien said the Crown alleged the meth was possessed for a commercial purpose but accepted Talovic was a drug user and was intending to use some of the drugs.

She said in addition to the quantity of meth found, it was of high purity and found with scales.

Ms O’Brien said Talovic was not being truthful with police.

“He also had CCTV at the front door, that combined with the weapons found at his home could support he is dealing with undesirable people in respect to drug matters,” she said.

Defence barrister Callan Cassidy argued the scales were consistent with personal use and that there was no evidence associated with a commercial operation.

Mr Cassidy said his client was assaulted while in custody.

The court heard Talovic was attacked from behind and had his head repeatedly stomped on.

He suffered a fractured eye socket, broken nose and lacerations.

Justice Crow said he accepted a large portion of the meth was for Talovic’s own use but that also a significant portion was available for sale.

“There was no indication you were going to sell in the near future but by the very amount and purity it was capable of being sold and available for sale,” he said.

“The installation of CCTV and possession of two firearms are strong indicators of commerciality.”

Justice Crow said Talovic found himself in a difficult position attempting to raise a child as a single parent while working full-time and started using meth which overtook his life very quickly.

He said upon his release from Western Australia he entered an in-house drug rehabilitation program for four months and was arrested upon returning to Queensland.

“Since being incarcerated you have turned your back on drugs,” he said.

Talovic was sentenced to two years and nine months’ prison with 313 days declared as time served and a parole release date of March 28, 2022, was set.

The drug paraphernalia and weapons were forfeited to the Crown.