Former Brisbane Grammar School student Jake Thomas Barrientos convicted for drug trafficking

An ex-private school boy who was valedictorian of his class has been convicted of using encrypted apps and Snapchat to traffic in cannabis and the prescription drug Alprazolam.

Former Brisbane Grammar School student Jake Barrientos outside the Brisbane Surpreme Court. Picture: Steve Pohlner

An ex-private school boy who was valedictorian of his class has walked free from court after he was convicted of using encrypted apps and Snapchat to traffic in cannabis and the prescription drug Alprazolam.

Jake Thomas Barrientos, from Kenmore in Brisbane’s western suburbs, was in the District Court in Brisbane on Monday before Judge Nathan Jarro where he was sentenced to a wholly-suspended two years’ in jail for one count of drug trafficking.

The court heard that Barrientos, now 22, who graduated with an OP2 from Brisbane Grammar School as valedictorian in 2019, trafficked in the two drugs between August 6, 2021 and November 28, 2021.

Using his Snapchat account, he offered to sell cannabis 34 times, as a street level dealer, and offered to sell Alprazolam, commonly known as anti-anxiety drug Xanax, once.

He had 40 customers and also used the encrypted app Threema when communicating with them, and supplied from 1.2g to 14g.

He was aged 19 when he charged by police after they searched his house on November 18, 2021 and they found cannabis and drug utensils.

Barrientos was sentenced to a four month good behaviour bond on July 29, 2020 for possessing personal quantities of MDMA and cannabis.

He was sentenced to 18 months probation on August 31, 2021 for drug-related charges in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, including cocaine and cannabis possession, and has completed this probation by gardening at a Toowoomba cemetery for 40 hours.

Defence lawyer Brendan Beavon submitted reports to the court from medical specialists that diagnosed Barrientos with schizophrenia and that he receives monthly antipsychotic depot injections.

Mr Beavon told the court that Barrientos had an undiagnosed psychotic syndrome since 2019.

“I accept your moral culpability for this trafficking is reduced,” Judge Jarro told Barrientos, who says he aspires to complete a TAFE course to qualify as dog groomer.

Judge Jarro said that drug trafficking was serious offending which needed to be denounced.

Barrientos began an engineering degree at the University of Queensland in 2020, but has dropped out.

Brisbane Grammar School old boy Jake Barrientos outside court. Picture: Steve Pohlner

He has been working five days a week at his parents’ doggie daycare business and lives with his parents and younger brother.

“You come from a very good family who has provided you with significant support it would seem, including you attending Brisbane Grammar,” Judge Jarro said.

“And you graduated in 2019 I’m told as the valedictorian where you obtained an OP2,” he said.

Barrientos submitted he began taking cannabis recreationally when he was in year 12.

He told a psychiatrist that he believed cannabis should be legalised, Crown prosecutor Carla Ahern told the court.

“You then in 2020 commenced a Masters of Engineering at UQ but subsequently withdrew due to the Covid pandemic and a combination of drug use and underlying mental health issues,” Judge Jarro said.

He volunteered with the RSPCA for 18 months and has also volunteered for the Animal Welfare League.

His required inpatient admission for 17 days at The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital mental health unit last year, and has shown significant improvements and is on the road to recovery, the court heard.

“It seems to me that you do have much promise Mr B, and you should not squander the opportunities that you have been afforded, particularly by your parents, who support you in court today,” Judge Jarro said.

Ms Ahern submitted Barrientos should be sentenced to two-and-a-half years but agreed he should be allowed to serve his time in the community.

Judge Jarro recorded a conviction.