Scott Anthony Funch and Karma Jane Lawson plead guilty to drug offences after police raid at Tanby

A Capricorn Coast couple has faced court after police raided their home at Tanby. Here’s what happened.

Scott Anthony Funch.

A Capricorn Coast couple has faced court on drugs charges after police raided their home at Tanby near Yeppoon.

Scott Anthony Funch, 45, pleaded guilty in Yeppoon Magistrates Court on October 13 to possessing methamphetamines and cannabis, as well as two counts of possessing drugs utensils.

His partner, Karma Jane Lawson, 38, also appeared in court on the same day, pleading guilty to possessing cannabis and drugs utensils.

The court heard Funch and Lawson were charged after police executed a search warrant at their Tanby Road residence on the morning of September 28.

Both Funch and Lawson were home at the time.

Police Prosecutor Sergeant Kevin Ongheen said during a search of the residence, police found three clip-seal bags of cannabis (38g total) inside Tupperware containers.

Sgt Ongheen said officers also found two water pipes with cone pieces near Funch’s bedside table.

Further, police found a sunglasses case which contained a glass pipe, two plastic straws and two clip-seal bags containing methamphetamine (total .045g).

Sgt Ongheen said Funch made full admissions to owning the drugs and items.

In relation to Funch’s criminal history, the court was told he was sentenced in the Supreme Court at Rockhampton in July, to 20 months’ jail with immediate release on parole for drug offending.

“It’s a disturbing feature of this case, that after being sentenced in the Rockhampton Supreme Court and being given parole, the defendant engages in offending of a like nature,” Sgt Ongheen said.

“Based on the fact that he has that Supreme Court sentence, I’d be seeking a period of imprisonment with time served or wholly suspended today, Your Honour.”

Funch represented himself in court, and a probation and parole officer told Acting Magistrate Ron Muirhead that Funch had completed a mental health care plan and accepted referrals to both a psychologist and Lives Lived Well (support for drug, alcohol and mental health issues).

Funch told Mr Muirhead that in the past five years he had gone through some extraordinary stuff that most people don’t go through, referring to a family tragedy.

Funch became emotional and Mr Muirhead gave him a few minutes.

“I fully appreciate you’re upset - just take a seat for a few minutes,” Mr Muirhead said.

When asked, Funch told Mr Muirhead he worked but he could do community service.

Mr Muirhead ordered Funch perform 100 hours of unpaid community service (with conditions) within 12 months and a conviction was recorded.

“If you breach those conditions what can happen, or what would happen, is the order would be cancelled, you’ll be back where you are now and you’ll be re-sentenced all over again - facing almost certainly a prison term,” Mr Muirhead said.

In relation to Lawson, Sgt Ongheen said her offending involved the possession of cannabis (38g) and two plastic water pipes.

“(Lawson) made admissions to being in possession of the items also,” Sgt Ongheen said.

The court heard Lawson had drug offending on her criminal history from 2020 when she was placed on probation on two separate occasions.

Representing herself, Lawson didn’t have anything to say about the latest offending beyond what Funch had already said.

Mr Muirhead fined her $1200 and a conviction was recorded.