Kaleb Douglas Smalley in Rockhampton court after marijuana drug bust

When police found a tick sheet, he told them the names on the sheet were mates who purchased drugs off him.

Yeppoon's Kaleb Douglas Smalley was busted with 2.108kg, $2480 cash in piles and other drug paraphernalia.

A surf life saving volunteer has fronted court for possessing more than two kilograms of an illicit drug and $2480 cash in piles, a court has heard.

Police uncovered the stash when they searched Kaleb Douglas Smalley’s residence on December 1, 2022, Crown prosecutor Ken Spinaze told the Rockhampton District Court on October 24.

In the Yeppoon man’s kitchen, police found two water pipes, two grinders, a bowl, clip-seal bags containing marijuana and piles of cash.

Under the sink, they located five clip seal bags, an envelope, two large glass jars and a ceramic jar containing various amounts of marijuana.

Mr Spinaze said police also located a tick sheet and cash in his wallet.

“The defendant gave an explanation to the police that the names on tick sheets were mates who ‘just bought weed off him’,” he said.

Police noticed one particular entry – a sale of $550 worth of marijuana to one male.

In Smalley’s bedroom, police found four cryovac bags of marijuana which contained the majority of the total 2.108kg of the illegal drug.

They also located five pairs of scissors, four electronic scales, two water pipes, one brass cone and a large electric grinder.

Mr Spinaze said Smalley was cooperative, however, he told police the cash located was from tips he got working at The Strand Hotel Yeppoon and that he didn’t know about the cryovac bags of marijuana in his bedroom.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said Smalley, who did volunteer work at the Yeppoon Surf Life Saving Club, had worked in hospitality, landscaping, forestry and in truck wheel alignment.

She said Smalley started smoking marijuana when he was 20 and was smoking about 28 grams per day when the search took place.

Ms Willey said his girlfriend had broken up with him one month prior to the search due to his drug use.

The court heard Smalley has turned his life around since this offending, relocated interstate, stopped smoking marijuana in January and got back together with his girlfriend who was in court, along with his parents and siblings, in support.

Two clear drug tests were provided to the court, along with a reference letter from an Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Services employee.

Judge Jeff Clarke said the references, including one each from his parents and employer, confirmed the significant change observed in Smalley.

Smalley pleaded guilty to one count each of supplying a drug, possessing a schedule two drug in excess of 500gms, possessing drug utensils, a phone used in the commission of a drug offence and property reasonably suspected to be tainted property.

He was sentenced to 12 months prison, wholly suspended and operational for 18 months.