Ex-ice user says ciggies and subutex are to blame for $1.2 million prison riot

A Central Queensland father who started using ice at 16 said the costly Capricornia Correctional Centre riot that prisoners simply wanted two things.

Alex Kenneth Smith.

A Central Queensland father who started using ice at 16 years old has been sentenced for his involvement in the 2021 Capricornia Correctional Centre riot that resulted in $1.2 million worth of damage and saw 64 prisoners charged with offences.

Alex Kenneth Smith, 32, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on October 26 to the single riot charge.

His excuse was simply that prisoners wanted subutex and cigarettes.

Crown prosecutor Ken Spinaze said the October 21 riot involved Smith more than 100 prisoners and continued for 18 hours.

Mr Spinaze said Smith was seen by police with a group of people who were trying to negotiate for subutex and cigarettes and a correctional services officer saw Smith at the activities block with other prisoners.

Alex Kenneth Smith.

The court heard while the officer was trying to get Smith and other prisoners to surrender, he yelled out “all the prisoners wanted were 100 suby strips and a white box”.

Mr Spinaze said Smith was also seen with prisoners who were in a group and threatening staff with weapons and captured on CCTV about on the roof of the activities block.

He said Smith, who was based in Secure Unit 5 in the prison, along with others, blocked correctional officers who were trying to enter the unit.

The court heard Smith threatened to smash the officers and refused to go back to his cell.

At the time, Smith was serving a 12 month prison sentence, with immediate parole eligibility, after having been jailed in May, 2021.

Extensive damage as a result of the riots at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Mr Spinaze said Smith, along with other prisoners, threw hot water at the correctional officers trying to enter the cell, however, the water was not hot enough to cause any injuries.

He said Smith and other prisoners gained entry to the officer’s station where he wrapped clothing around his head and took personal property belonging to correctional officers.

Mr Spinaze said Smith damaged a small fridge in the officer’s station and pulled out its cord.

He said Smith assisted other prisoners to access to a fire hose that he used to hose down the unit and exercise yard.

Extensive damage as a result of the riots at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Then he and other prisoners escaped over the fence of the exercise yard.

Mr Spinaze said while Smith did not instigate the riot, he was an active participant in it and that there were threats of violence to correctional officers.

However, he added Smith never used any actual violence.

Defence barrister Julie Marsden said while her client was not the one who started the riot, he also was not just a bystander.

Extensive damage as a result of the riots at Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Ms Marsden said her client did not throw any hot water.

She said the riot started in her client’s area but not in his immediate unit.

“He did know other people involved and once things got underway he started stressing out,” Ms Marsden said.

“Afterwards he was put in isolation for three weeks and transferred to a different prison where he didn’t know anyone.”

Capricornia Correctional Centre.

Ms Marsden said her client, who had a son, grew up in Woorabinda and lived mostly on the streets throughout his life.

She said he started using ice at 16 years old but he was now clean.

Judge Jeff Clarke sentenced Smith to 21 months prison with immediate parole eligibility and declared 207 days of pre-sentence custody as time already served.