Repeat drug offender Russell Albert Power-Nutley busted again with methamphetamine

A Central Queensland man’s solicitor made a submission for a good behaviour order but the magistrate was having none of that. Here’s what was said in court and the penalty the offender copped.

A repeat drug offender has been hit with a fine after his solicitor’s bid for a lesser penalty was rejected by a magistrate who said he was not going to “just hand out” good behaviour orders for methamphetamine possession.

Russell Albert Power-Nutley, 24, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court this month to possessing methamphetamines and a pipe used to smoke the drug.

The court heard that on September 4, 2020, police saw a vehicle on Hewitt Street, Emu Park, and they intercepted it for a search.

During a pat-down search of Power-Nutley, officers found a clip-seal bag containing methamphetamine.

In the vehicle, police found more methamphetamine in the driver’s side door compartment.

The total weight of methamphetamine found was 1g.

A glass pipe was also found near the front passenger seat.

The court heard that Power-Nutley had drug offending on his criminal history in 2019 and 2020 – the latter involving methamphetamine possession.

Solicitor Brandon Selic said the matter had been delayed while a certificate of analysis was obtained and the long delay was “in no way” the fault of his client.

Mr Selic said that certificate showed that the amount of meth was “well below” the 1g that had been stated.

Mr Selic said that Power-Nutley was employed and the solicitor made a submission for a good behaviour order, noting there had been no offending since this 2020 incident.

That was not accepted by Magistrate Cameron Press who responded: “No, there’s no good behaviour order for methamphetamine. I mean, it’s a dangerous drug – it’s a scourge on our society. I’m not issuing good behaviour orders to people who have got methamphetamine in their possession.”

Mr Press added: “And not just that. He (Power-Nutley) has previously been on a recognisance order of four months and that was for drug diversion. So I’m not prepared to just hand out good behaviours for people who have got methamphetamine.”

Mr Press fined Power-Nutley $900.

Convictions were not recorded.