Michael Hardy, Adam Bonney, Amanda Hoe allegedly caught in car full of cash and methamphetamine

Three Geelong residents were allegedly found at a Newcomb car wash with over $15,000 in cash and a stash of drugs, and one them could be facing jail time.

Three people allegedly busted in a car full of drugs and cash have appeared in court, but only one is facing a “significant” jail term.

Michael Hardy, of no fixed address, faced the Geelong Magistrates Court on charges of trafficking in methylamphetamine on quantity alone, dealing with proceeds of crime, driving while disqualified and possession of Valium and a drug of dependence, being GHB.

His co-accused, Newcomb man Adam Bonney, sat alongside him in court and pleaded guilty to possessing methamphetamine.

Amanda Hoe, the third co-accused, also appeared to face charges of possessing drugs of dependence and dealing with proceeds of crime.

Mr Hardy and Ms Hoe are yet to enter an official plea.

Amanda Hoe was charged with possessing a drug of dependence and dealing with proceeds of crime. Picture: Facebook.

In March this year, police officers allegedly observed the three in or around a car belonging to Mr Hardy at a Newcomb car wash.

Police searched the car and allegedly found 22 grams of methylamphetamine, four vials of GHB and 23 Valium tablets.

Officers also allegedly found $15,280 in cash and later found a further 10 Valium tablets, a machete and a knife hidden in the car.

While at the station, officers found 12 grams of methamphetamine hidden in Bonney’s underwear.

As Bonney was only in the car for minutes before police arrival, this charge is the only one he was facing.

Adam Bonney was found in the car but his charges relate only to being found with methamphetamine in his underwear. Picture: Facebook.

Prosecution have alleged officers saw Ms Hoe searching through the glovebox where money and drugs were later found.

Talking to Magistrate Franz Holzer directly, Ms Hoe said she was looking for money to pay for doughnuts and did not see any drugs.

“There was just money. All I saw was money. I thought the drugs were found in the glovebox,” Ms Hoe said.

Ms Hoe’s lawyer, Ryan Robertson, said her role was “very peripheral” and placed her at the “lower end” of the offending.

Mr Hardy was the owner of the car, which Mr Holzer said places him at greater risk of jail.

Mr Holzer gave a sentencing indication of a “significant” period of time behind bars, flagging with Mr Hardy it would be around six months if he decided to plead guilty on the spot.

“Trafficking in drugs has a whole series of social and community consequences. It’s rife in our community and people think it’s okay to peddle in drugs and cause so much misery and harm,” he said.

Mr Hardy rejected the sentencing indication and will return to court in January 2023 to contest the trafficking charges.

Ms Hoe has been given a sentencing indication of a fine and will be assessed for a community corrections order.

Bonney will be fined and convicted for the drug possession charge.

Originally published as Michael Hardy, Adam Bonney, Amanda Hoe allegedly caught in car full of cash and methamphetamine