Darren John Green: Logan dad sentenced in Beenleigh District Court for arson

A Logan dad who drove to the scene of an arson truck fire to collect the principal offender was linked to the crime via the electronic tracking device he was wearing, a court has heard.

A Logan man has faced court on a single charge of arson after he drove to the scene of the crime while on parole and wearing an electronic tracking device.

Darren John Green, 51, appeared in Beenleigh District Court on Monday, July 11 via video-link from custody on one count of arson, which he was arraigned upon and pleaded guilty to on January 31 this year.

The court heard Green was 48 years old when he drove his partner’s car to an address at Woodridge where he knew there was a truck that had been stolen and would be burned, intending to provide the principal offender with transportation from the scene.

The Logan Reserve man was pulled over by police on his way to collect the person.

The owner of the truck, who used it for commercial purposes, had parked it about 4pm on January 16, 2020 on a street in Archerfield. It was stolen sometime in the next 48 hours.

At 9.30am on January 19, police were notified of a fire at a nearby residence and identified the truck as the one that had been stolen.

Footage uncovered during an investigation into the incident depicted a man dressed in black clothing driving the truck, and a station wagon registered to Green’s partner following closely behind.

Green‘s partner is not accused of any wrongdoing.

Police were able to confirm Green’s involvement via the electronic tracking device he was wearing at the time of the offence.

The father-of-five was arrested and charged on March 28 last year and has since spent a total of 471 days in custody.

Crown prosecutor Stephanie Francis said the offence was serious and had a “detrimental” impact on the complainant, a 66-year-old woman.

“It did require Queensland fire services to attend,” she said.

“And Mr Green is a man with an extensive criminal history who committed the offence while on parole.”

She noted Green was “party to the arson” as he intended to provide the principal offender transportation from the scene knowing what had occurred.

Defence barrister Michael Bonasia told the court his client had a background in landscaping and mechanics and had prospects for employment upon his release.

Judge Deborah Holliday QC noted Green’s plea of guilty was timely, also taking into consideration his 18-page criminal history, his 10-page traffic history, his mental health struggles, his “binge-type” drinking habits, and the emotional and financial distress caused to the owner of the truck.

She sentenced Green to two years’ imprisonment to be wholly suspended for two years.

Ms Holliday decided not to declare the days he spent in presentence custody time served under the sentence. A conviction was recorded.