Court brief: Here’s the list of Stanthorpe offenders who faced the magistrate

From an opportunistic thief who tried to flog his stolen wares on social media to those charged with drug possession, here are some of the matters that went before Stanthorpe Magistrates Court this week.

From an opportunistic thief who tried to flog his stolen wares on social media to those charged with drug possession, the latest round of people to go before Stanthorpe Magistrates Court have been revealed.

Here are some of the people who had their matters finalised in court on Wednesday, March 8, 2023 before magistrate Virginia Sturgess.

• For Amanda Jane Jolly, it was the decision to go for an afternoon drive after a day of drinking which landed her in front of the magistrate.

The court was told that on December 29, 2022, police responded to a single vehicle crash in the afternoon on Old Warwick Rd, The Summit, and quickly identified Jolly as the driver of the vehicle.

Local mum Amanda Jane Jolly fronted Stanthorpe Magistrate Court on Wednesday

A test after the crash revealed Jolly had an alcohol reading of 0.183, and told the court the reason she got behind the wheel was “to get medication for her son”.

Jolly received a $1200 fine, was disqualified from driving for eight months and was subject to an interlock device.

Convictions were recorded.

Read the full story.

NO CONVICTION RECORDED

• A 29-year-old traffic controller ended up in front of the magistrate after police executed a search warrant on his home.

Louis Robert Schlank pleaded guilty to possession of dangerous drugs and drug utensils on Wednesday.

On January 10, police uncovered three bags containing an unknown amount of cannabis and a used bong at a residence at Severnlea

Defence lawyer Steve Mccrohan told the court Schlank “assisted police and identified where the drugs were and what they were” during the raid.

Schlank received a $300 fine and no conviction was recorded.

• For one Severnlea man, his “hidden” stash of illegal fireworks resulted in a hefty fine.

Alexander Lloyd Butler pleaded guilty to one charge of authority required to possess explosives.

On January 10, a search warrant executed by police revealed a “large quantity of fireworks” concealed in a spray-painted container hidden in scrubland.

The court was told the 20-year-old farmhand made admission to “buying the fireworks as well as concealing them”.

Ms Sturgess gave Butler a stern warning saying that buying and possessing the fireworks were a “safety risk”.

“If children found them and injured themselves, you’d be liable for that,” she told the man.

Butler was fined $500 and no conviction was recorded.

• A 63-year-old man busted driving while drunk was told by the magistrate his actions were a “risk”.

Mark Steven Minifie was nabbed by police just after 8.30pm on February 23 on Maryland St where he returned a breath alcohol reading nearly three times the legal limit.

Mark Steven Minifie plead guilty to middle range drink driving on Wednesday, March 8 at Stanthorpe

The canopy installer blew a reading of 0.141 BAC, and pleaded guilty to driving over the middle alcohol limit.

Minifie’s defence lawyer said he had made an “unfortunate decision” and was “remorseful”.

Ms Sturgess said his actions had “put others at risk”.

Minifie received a $750 fine and had his licence suspended for six months.

No conviction was recorded.

• An opportunistic thief has finally had his brazen matter settled in court.

Jake Eric Charlton pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing relating to an incident in Emerald in 2020.

The court was told how the 22-year-old apprentice concreter, on or about October 14, stole tools valued at $1500 out of the back of a ute.

Jake Eric Charlton plead guilty to one charge of stealing in Emerald on Wednesday, March 8 at Stanthorpe Magistrate Court

Charlton came undone after someone saw the stolen goods for sale for $700 on social media, in a quick effort to flip the stolen wares for cash.

Charlton told the magistrate that he had “turned around” his life through giving up using recreational drugs and that at that period of his life he was “very lost” and did “a lot of silly things”.

“Ever since moving down here (to Stanthorpe), I’ve really changed myself around in the last two years by working and staying off the drugs,” Charlton said.

Ms Sturgess said it was “no excuse” that Charlton was under the influence of drugs and alcohol during the offending period.

“Misusing drugs and alcohol is no excuse to steal,” she told the man.

Charlton was fined $500 and no conviction was recorded.