People who have pleaded guilty to possessing party drugs in Sunshine Coast courts
These are the people of the Sunshine Coast who were caught with party drugs and have faced the repercussions in court.
Sunshine Coast
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Sunshine Coast people who were caught with party drugs have been sentenced in courts across the region in the past 12 months.
From LSD to cocaine, these are the people who were caught red-handed with party drugs on their person, in their system or in their home.
See the full list:
CONVICTIONS RECORDED
Ricardo Rodolfo Pepi
Ricardo Rodolfo Pepi pleaded guilty in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 23, 2024 to 28 charges including eight counts of stealing.
The court was told the offences occurred between February 2023 and July 2024, which included stealing items from various shops and receiving stolen tradesman tools to sell them at Cash Converters for profit.
Police prosecutor Shane Raison said he had stolen a laptop worth $593, a Samsung phone worth $1647, and a smartwatch worth $799.
He had also stolen clothing from City Beach twice, amounting to more than $300 in total, and cigarettes worth $45.
Pepi was also found in possession of cocaine.
Defence lawyer Katie Patterson told the court her client had been suffering from a period of substance abuse, sometimes daily, which had increased after a personal loss in the past.
The value of the stolen tools in addition to the profit made from selling the items to Cash Converters was estimated to be about $6000, the court heard.
Mr McLaughlin sentenced him to 12 months’ imprisonment with immediate parole release and declared his 113 days in pre-sentence custody as time served.
Convictions were recorded.
Pepi pleaded guilty to eight counts of stealing, eight counts of fraud, four of receiving and two of possessing tainted property, three of possessing drugs, one of possessing drug utensils, one of breaching bail and one of failing to report.
Trent Nathan Laing
Trent Nathan Laing appeared in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on July 2, 2024, and pleaded guilty to seven charges including producing and possessing drugs.
Police prosecutor Stu Lydford told the court Laing had been found in possession of 300g of cannabis, magic mushrooms and LSD tabs as well as a hydroponic set-up to grow cannabis plants on March 12.
Defence barrister Peter Slipper told the court the production of the drug had no commercial intent behind it.
The court heard Laing, at the time of sentencing, owned two hotels including the Royal George Hotel in Nambour, as well as a number of bottle shops.
He told the court one of Laing’s former staff members had stolen a substantial amount of money from him, causing financial issues, and Laing resorted to cannabis as a form of medication.
Magistrate Haydn Stjernqvist fined him $1200 and a conviction was recorded.
Laing pleaded guilty to one count of producing drugs, three of possessing drugs, one of possessing anything used in connection of a drug crime, one of possessing drug utensils and one of possessing firecrackers.
Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury
A court heard how a Ninderry labourer who failed to give police access to his phone after being found with a large amount of cocaine told officers the drug money uncovered was won from the pokies.
Jaxon Robert Kahn Salisbury was sentenced in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in May after pleas of guilty to possessing drugs over the schedule, contravening an order to open his phone, possessing anything used in the connection of the commission of an offence and possessing scales.
After police raided Salisbury’s home, Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said he was uncooperative with officers and refused to grant them access to his phone.
Sergeant Pyke said 9.37g of cocaine was found during the search, with scientific testing revealing only 3.57g of the substance was pure.
The court heard Salisbury told police $8150 cash found had been won from the pokies, then said part of it was from his employment.
Defence solicitor Ben Rynderman told the court there was no commerciality alleged from the drugs or the cash found by police.
The court heard the 22-year-old spiralled into a “party lifestyle” where he would buy cocaine in large quantities for his own use.
An apology letter and references were tendered to Mr Callaghan, with the court being told the Ninderry man was clean from drugs and had no criminal history.
Salisbury was jailed for six months, which was immediately suspended for 12 months.
Anthony William Stout
A Nambour tree lopper became eligible for parole this year after his drug-fuelled crime spree led him to driving stolen cars and possessing a large amount of a designer drug.
Anthony William Stout committed 15 crimes over a period of eight months before he ended up on remand, where he spent 73 days in prison before his sentence in Maroochydore Magistrates Court in November last year.
The 41-year-old learnt his fate after he pleaded guilty to 15 offences including six counts of stealing, three of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and one of possessing dangerous drugs over the schedule.
Among Stout’s crimes, the court heard he unlawfully used a car and a trailer between January 1 and 30, did fuel drive offs, and was found in possession of a large amount of GHB, or liquid fantasy.
Stout was jailed for 18 months with a parole eligibility date set at January 14 this year. He was also disqualified from driving for three months.
Samuel McNeill
A Noosa father was released on parole after a raid on his home discovered a nefarious drug den and weapons, including a large amount of low-quality cocaine.
Samuel McNeill was at his large acreage block at Doonan on August 22, 2022, when a targeted search warrant conducted by police uncovered the major bust.
The details of this drug raid were detailed in sentencing remarks published following his sentence in the Brisbane Supreme Court in late October following guilty pleas to several charges including two counts of possessing weapons, possessing drugs over the schedule and producing dangerous drugs.
Chief Justice Helen Bowskill said a search of the 37-year-old’s property found 61.346g of cocaine, however only 5.498g was pure cocaine.
Justice Bowskill said it was “very low purity” which was divided into three bags.
McNeill was jailed for three years but granted immediate parole. Convictions were recorded.
Katelyn Jade Edwards
A Sunshine Coast mother who did not return two hire cars told police her drugs officers found during an unexpected raid at a hinterland home were actually “multivitamins”.
Katelyn Jade Edwards told officers this after they were able to track a rental vehicle she hired from a Marcoola rental car business on August 30 that she did not return, which was reported to police.
The Maroochydore Magistrates Court was told of her offences after pleas of guilty to eight charges including three counts of possessing drugs, two of unlawful use of a motor vehicle and failing to give her particulars after a crash.
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said officers tracked the car to a Landsborough home on September 10 where they found a number of drugs in a bedroom where Edwards was.
The police prosecutor said officers found three pills filled with MDMA inside a glasses case, along with 2g of meth, two diazepam tablets and a glass pipe.
Sergeant Pyke said the 28-year-old told police the pills were “multivitamins”.
The court heard 15ml of 1,4 butanediol, or “drink”, was also found in her handbag, which is commonly used as a substitute for GHB.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan placed the Sunshine Coast woman on an 18-month probation order and fined her $250.
Convictions were recorded.
Reubhan Mickeal Gary Ralph
An aspiring fly in fly out worker’s involvement as a courier in a Sunshine Coast drug syndicate has been revealed in court documents.
Reubhan Mickeal Gary Ralph, 27, was regarded as an “employee” in the cocaine enterprise between November 21, 2021 and May 14, 2022 where he would conduct deliveries and debt collection.
Remarks on Ralph’s sentence in the Supreme Court in Brisbane published last year stated the Peregian Springs man’s patch stretched from the Sunshine Coast down to the Gold Coast, where he would complete jobs in exchange for money or drugs.
The details of his drug dealing career can be revealed following Ralph’s pleas of guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs and two counts of possessing dangerous drugs.
Justice Elizabeth Wilson said the 27-year-old’s offending came to light following a police operation in 2021 and 2022 targeting drug dealing on the Sunshine Coast.
Ralph was not the primary target but identified as an “employee”, while his two co-accused were the primary targets.
Justice Wilson said this came crashing down in May 2022 following a search warrant on his Little Mountain home which found three grams of cannabis, two pipes, a grinder and an iPhone.
He was taken to the Maroochydore watch house where 0.41g of cocaine was found in his wallet.
Ralph was jailed for three and a half years which was immediately suspended. He was also placed on a two and a half year probation order.
Beau John Deighton
A Baringa drug dealer was released on parole after spending months in custody following a crime spree which included assaulting a woman and selling liquid fantasy.
Beau John Deighton spent five-and-a-half months in jail after he was charged with 14 offences including three counts of possessing dangerous drugs, two counts of supplying dangerous drugs and assault.
Caloundra Magistrates Court heard the details of his torrid crime spree from May 5, 2023, to February 6, 2024, after he pleaded guilty to all charges.
The court heard Deighton also offered to supply an unknown drug and GHB, commonly known as liquid fantasy, on November 24, 2023 and January 24 respectively.
He was also found with varying amounts of 1,4-Butanediol, trenbolone, marijuana and meth along with drug items including a mobile phone, scales and a notepad associated with supplying dangerous drugs.
Deighton was sentenced to 15 months’ jail, but was allowed 163 days in custody as time served. He was given immediate parole.
Charlie Roy Beattie
A well-known Sunshine Coast musician has spent the better part of three months in prison after being caught up in two separate drug busts, including one where a sizeable amount of cocaine was uncovered.
Charlie Roy Beattie spent 112 days in custody on remand after police found him with various amounts of drugs in two incidents last year.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard how the Maroochydore man was found with 7g of cocaine and an amount of MDMA during a police intercept at Twin Waters on April 5 last year while on parole.
Despite being charged and released on bail, police caught up with Beattie once again at Alexandra Headland on December 7 last year, where they uncovered more cocaine, marijuana, a human growth hormone, a spoon, digital scales, pipes and a grinder.
Police prosecutor Mel Pyke said the 28-year-old, who has a 12,000-strong following on Instagram, was taken into custody after his second arrest where he spent 112 days on remand before his court appearance in March.
He was charged and later pleaded guilty to four counts of possessing drugs and one of possessing drugs over the schedule and possessing property suspecting of being used in connection with a drug offence.
Sergeant Pyke told the court the community expected the courts to mete out appropriate sentences to those who were “as heavily involved in drugs” as Beattie was.
He was also placed on a 12-month jail term, suspended immediately for two years.
Marcus Geoffrey Smart
A Moffat Beach man who failed to open his phone during a targeted drug task-force raid was found with a sizeable amount of drugs.
Marcus Geoffrey Smart’s possession of the large amount of cocaine was one of many offences which breached a suspended sentence he received last year after a Sunshine Coast Drug and Serious Crime Taskforce search warrant.
He faced Maroochydore Magistrates Court in March where he pleaded guilty to multiple charges including possessing dangerous drugs over the schedule, driving with a relevant drug in his system and driving without a licence.
The court was told this suspended term of imprisonment stemmed from a raid by detectives on a Maroochy River home on March 7 last year where he refused to open his phone for police.
The court heard the Moffat Beach man was sentenced last year for contravening an order by a magistrate and placed on a four-month jail sentence which was suspended for 12 months. This was extended several months later.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said despite this, Smart continued to breach it, including being found with large amount of drugs at Mountain Creek on May 21.
The police prosecutor said Smart was found with 3g of pure cocaine in 9g of substance.
Smart was jailed for four months but immediately released on parole.
Reyce Kyle Beverstock
A Glass House Mountains drug dealer admitted to threatening to shoot a group of people with a sawn off shotgun before firing it as they fled.
Maroochydore District Court heard in February Reyce Kyle Beverstock pointed the loaded weapon at the group when they followed his neighbour to his Sunshine Coast hinterland home.
The frightening details of the exchange were heard following his pleas of guilty to 32 charges including 19 counts of supplying a dangerous drug, three of possessing dangerous drugs and one of going armed to cause fear.
Crown prosecutor Erica Zammit said the 29-year-old’s drug crimes came to light after the disturbing weapon incident on March 31, 2023.
Police were called following this and Beverstock’s home was raided which uncovered the 29-year-old’s drug dealing side hustle, where detectives came across 19 drug supplies of mainly marijuana, but also cocaine or MDMA.
Most of the drug deals were street level and some included offers and not actual supplies, which stretched from 2021 to 2023 to six different customers.
He was also found to be growing his own marijuana, with 508g of loose cannabis found partnered with small amounts of MDMA, prescription drugs, ketamine, drug items, $2235 in cash and 700 rounds of ammunition. The gun was not found at the time.
The 29-year-old was jailed for two years but will be released onto parole on August 10 after serving six months.
Michael John Alderson
A Buderim builder was granted immediate parole after he was found with almost $120,000 in dirty cash, a tainted luxury watch and a loaded handgun.
His latest jail sentence was not the first for Michael John Alderson after he received three years’ prison in the Supreme Court in Brisbane in September for possessing a drug over the schedule.
In Maroochydore Magistrates Court in February, the 30-year-old admitted to a slew of left over charges which were “intertwined” with his drug offending.
Details of these crimes were heard after Alderson pleaded guilty to 14 charges including three counts of driving disqualified, two of possessing dangerous drugs, two of possessing tainted property and one of possessing a weapon.
Police prosecutor Mark Burrell said Alderson was caught with almost $120,000 in dirty cash in Pelican Waters on June 10, 2022. He was also found with a small amount of meth, GHB and a pipe.
Alderson was remanded in custody following further charges on these charges and other serious offences where he spent 633 days in jail. He was released on parole on September 19 last year following his sentence in the Supreme Court.
Magistrate Chris Callaghan opted to jail Alderson for 20 months but granted immediate parole once again, acknowledging his good progress after being released. His time in custody was not declared as time served.
The Buderim man was also disqualified from driving for two years.
NO CONVICTION RECORDED
Kodi Mark Saunders
A Sippy Downs man has had his cocaine stash uncovered by police in a search warrant during a major drug operation.
Kodi Mark Saunders found himself entangled in the major investigation when his phone number was picked up during telephone intercepts with the alleged heads of a drug syndicate, Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard in April.
The 29-year-old was at his former home at Wurtulla on May 21 when detectives raided his home about 5.30am with a warrant.
Police prosecutor Richard Higham said they found Saunders in his bedroom, and he told police he had cocaine to declare.
Officers also seized his Apple iPhone which he provided the PIN number to, as they claimed it was used to obtain drugs.
Saunders was taken to the Maroochydore watch-house and charged with possessing cocaine over the schedule and possessing anything used in the commission of a crime.
In court, however, he pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge of possessing dangerous drugs with the schedule offence withdrawn following scientific analysis of the powder. He also pleaded guilty to the phone charge.
Saunders was placed on a 12-month probation order with no conviction recorded.
Billy Ford
A Kiels Mountain concreter who suffered significant injuries in a devastating car smash with a power pole has had his secret cocaine stash found by emergency services.
Billy Ford had to be cut out of his Nissan ute after he rolled the vehicle and crashed into a power pole along Diddillibah Rd at Diddillibah about 7pm on September 17, 2023.
Maroochydore Magistrates Court heard last year how the 30-year-old was trapped in the driver’s seat, with emergency crews rescuing him from the crumpled wreck.
Police prosecutor Michael Quirk said while Ford was being attended to, paramedics located a large bag containing smaller baggies of white powder in clear view among the debris.
This was handed to police, with officers confiscating 10 clip seal bags overall containing 1g each of cocaine.
Mr Quirk said following testing, it was revealed to be about 3g of actual cocaine.
Defence lawyer Katie Paterson said Ford had no memory of the crash and stated the cocaine found was for his personal use only.
The Kiels Mountain man pleaded guilty to possessing dangerous drugs over the schedule and was fined $2000. No conviction was recorded.
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