Drug offenders punished in Rockhampton Magistrates Court

A number of Central Queenslanders caught in possession of dangerous drugs or drug items have been punished in Rockhampton Magistrates Court. Here’s some of the latest offenders who were busted.

Here are some of the Central Queenslanders who pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court recently to their offending involving dangerous drugs or drug paraphernalia.

Grant Allan Ryan, 50, was found in possession of 17 marijuana plants growing in his backyard during a police search of his house in Rockhampton on February 20.

Ryan pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 6 to one count each of possessing property suspected of having been used with the commission of a drug offence, possessing utensils or pipes that had been used, possessing dangerous drugs and producing dangerous drugs.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Sarah Rowe said the 17 marijuana plants weighed 17.8kg.

The court heard the plants were a variety of sizes and all appeared to be healthy and well maintained.

Senior Constable Rowe said police also found 195g of dried marijuana, as well as clip-seal bags and other drug paraphernalia.

She said Ryan had a four-page criminal history and, while dated, had four previous entries for producing dangerous drugs.

“(Ryan) shows he is unable to address his drug offending and rehabilitate himself,” she said.

Defence lawyer Lachlan Robertson said his client’s partner of 30 years recently passed away and that it was her diagnosis which brought his family to Central Queensland.

“He has been engaging treatment for his relapse in drug use from issues stemming from the passing of his partner and the emotional turbulence this has caused,” Mr Robertson said.

Ryan was sentenced to 12 months’ prison with immediate parole and criminal convictions recorded.

The drug paraphernalia was forfeited to police.

Larinda Alita-Shylee Byrne, 29, was found in possession of a glass pipe after police attended Park Avenue Hotel Motel and declared an emergent search on May 11 at 12.50am.

Byrne pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 6 to one count of possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence.

Police prosecutor Senior Constable Peter Rumford said Byrne told police the glass pipe was in her handbag when asked if she had anything to declare.

Defence lawyer Brendan Gimbert said his client was on parole and that drug use had been a “predominant feature” in her recent past.

“She is doing well on parole,” Mr Gimbert said.

“They are making referrals to Drug ARM.”

Byrne was fined $450 with a criminal conviction recorded.

The glass pipe was forfeited to police.

Mikala Ann Neill-Ballantine, 27, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 15, 2022.

Mikala Ann Neill-Ballantine, 27, was found in possession of eight clip-seal bags containing 2.07g of methamphetamine and other drug related items when she was intercepted driving along Rockonia Road, Rockhampton, on January 21 at 3.35am.

Neill-Ballantine pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 15 to two counts of possessing utensils or pipes for use, and one count each of possessing property suspected of having been used in connection with the commission of a drug offence, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing utensils or pipes that had been used.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said while searching Neill-Ballantine’s vehicle, police found a bag on the front passenger seat, which the defendant stated belonged to her before stating it belonged to a mate and that she had borrowed it.

Ms Bain said along with the meth, police also found a glass pipe, a large quantity of unused small clip-seal bags, a small quantity of used small clip-seal bags containing a crystal like residue, a set of electronic scales and two small plastic straws.

She said that same day at 12.30pm police executed a search warrant at Neill-Ballantine’s house in Koongal and found two sets of scales and four glass pipes, three of which had burnt residue consistent with meth use.

In relation to the meth, Ms Bain said the total weight of the substance was 2.07g and that meth was only detected in the substance.

Defence lawyer Samantha Legrady added that normally there would be a purity or how many grams of meth was detected in the substance but there was nothing other than stating the drug was detected.

Neill-Ballantine was fined $500 and ordered to drug diversion with a $800 recognisance order for 12 months and no criminal convictions recorded.

The drug paraphernalia was forfeited to police.

Natasha Lee Hanson, 28, was found in possession of 0.7g of marijuana and a “bucket bong” during a police search of a house in Mount Morgan on May 29 at 3.17pm.

Hanson pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 15 to one count each of possessing utensils or pipes for use and possessing dangerous drugs.

Police Prosecutor Stacey Bain said police had attended the address to search the premises for a wanted person and that Hanson had claimed ownership of the marijuana.

Defence lawyer Ken Spinaze said his client did not live at the address that was searched by police and that the drug was not hers.

“She claimed ownership of them because she was smoking them at the time she was there,” Mr Spinaze said.

“She doesn’t smoke it every week. She smokes it on occasions and with other people.”

Hanson was ordered to nine months’ probation with criminal convictions recorded.

The drug paraphernalia was forfeited to police.

Electra Tracey Knight, 37, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 15, 2022.

Electra Tracey Knight, 37, was found in possession of a clip-seal bag containing 7.9g of marijuana, another clip seal-bag containing 3.1g of marijuana, a Suboxone strip and drug paraphernalia after police executed a search warrant at an address in Rockhampton on June 12, 2020.

Knight pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 15 to two counts of possessing dangerous drugs, and one count each of possessing utensils or pipes that had been used, possessing anything used in the commission of a crime, and unlawful possession of category R weapon.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said police found digital scales, three used glass pipes, a used bong and a used brass pipe and that Knight told police she used the items to smoke dangerous drugs.

Ms Bain said inside Knight’s vehicle police found clip-seal bags and straws and a used glass pipe.

She said in the driver’s side door of the vehicle in the garage police also found tear gas spray.

The court heard Knight was sentenced to 12 months prison with immediate parole in the Rockhampton Supreme Court in May after pleading guilty to seven counts of supplying a dangerous drug, one of possessing more than two grams of a dangerous drug and one of possessing Australian currency reasonably suspected to be tainted property.

Defence lawyer Caitlin Dee said her client was not convicted with trafficking dangerous drugs in relation to the Supreme Court sentence.

Ms Dee said her client was looking for a friendship group and ended up helping out her associates, who she thought were friends.

“She had a drug addiction,” she said.

“She is doing well on parole.”

Knight was convicted and not further punished with criminal convictions recorded.

The drug paraphernalia and weapon were forfeited to police.

Kieren Henry John Devecchi, 51, was found in possession of 21 tablets of the restricted medication Sildenafil when he was searched by police on Kent Lane, Rockhampton, on March 9, 2021.

Devecchi was also found in possession of less than 5g of marijuana and a pipe when police executed a search warrant at an address where he had been residing in March 2021.

He pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 16 to two counts of breach of bail condition, and one count each of possessing utensils or pipes for use, possessing dangerous drugs, possessing by night instrument of house breaking prior conviction of crime relating to property, and unlawful possession of restricted drugs.

Police prosecutor Stacey Bain said during the search of Devecchi’s backpack on March 9, 2021 police also found a number of other items, including several torches, a set of wire cutters, a set of multi grip pliers and a large sewing needle that appeared to be lock pick.

The court heard Devecchi was sentenced to three years’ prison with 458 days declared as time served and immediate parole in Rockhampton District Court on June 14 after pleading guilty to seven counts of entering premises and stealing, three counts of breaking and entering premises and stealing, two counts each of stealing and entering premises with intent to commit indictable offence, and one count of burglary and stealing.

Defence lawyer Brian McGowran said his client had been addicted drugs for a long time.

“He has been in custody now for 15 months off drugs,” Mr McGowran said.

“The challenge is when he gets out he is going to run into people who he used to know who used drugs.

“His plan for that is to go up north and stay off drugs and apologise to his family for everything in the past and try and reconcile with his family.

“The only way he is going to be able to do that is to stay off drugs.”

Devecchi was convicted and not further punished with criminal convictions recorded.

The drug paraphernalia was forfeited to police.

Kieren Henry John Devecchi, 51, appeared in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 16, 2022.

Max Robinson, 57, was found in possession of Viagra pills when police searched his home in Wandal on May 18.

Robinson pleaded guilty in Rockhampton Magistrates Court on June 21 to one count each of attempt to commit offence possessing dangerous drugs and offence to buy or possess S4 or S8 medicines or hazardous poisons.

Police prosecutor Clancy Fox said border force officers inspected a consignment that was addressed to Robinson’s home on March 30 and that it contained two vials of nandrolone.

Mr Fox said that when Robinson told police during the search in May that he wished to self medicate and was unaware it was illegal.

Regarding the Viagra, Mr Fox said Robinson told police he had the pills for a long time and had forgotten about them.

Robinson’s defence lawyer said her client’s offending came about when he was suffering ongoing fatigue, lethargy, and other symptoms related to testosterone deficiency.

“After researching symptoms online my client considered that it may be reduced testosterone levels and sought to purchase some replacement therapy online, being too embarrassed at the time to attend a doctor,” she said.

“He made the purchase and thought it may be a scam at the time.

“On April 6, prior to becoming aware of these charges, he did attend his doctor who confirmed testosterone deficiencies and he has now been prescribed for that.

“He instructs he was given the (Viagra) tablets by a friend some years ago and they have been among his toiletries for some time.”

She said her client’s offending was uncharacteristic.

“They were purchased for a therapeutic purpose rather than recreational,” she said.

Robinson was fined $500 with no criminal conviction recorded.