Drew Raska pleads guilty to MDMA, ice supply on North Coast
A man who was stopped by police on the Pacific Highway had been planning to fight his drug supply charges but the proceedings have changed course.
Police & Courts
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A former Grafton man has pleaded guilty to drug supply charges after initially telling a court he would fight them.
Gold Coast resident Drew Raska, 29, was due to face a hearing in Byron Bay Local Court this week to defend charges of supplying MDMA and ice, driving with both those drugs in his system and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
But Raska pleaded guilty to those charges before his hearing was set to being on Tuesday after his lawyers and prosecutors resolved the matter.
The proceedings were, however, delayed after his Queensland-based barrister, Martin Longhurst, forgot about daylight saving, which kicked in on Sunday morning.
“So we’ve got a closed border and different time zones now,” Magistrate Karen Stafford said.
“I think we’re still in the same country.”
After the brief delay, a date was set for Raska to be sentenced in November.
Police initially alleged he had 30g of methylamphetamine and 20g of MDMA pills in his possession when his vehicle was stopped on the Pacific Highway at Ewingsdale about 11.30am on October 2, 2020.
But the prosecution amended those details to involve 23.64g and 16.44g respectively.
Raska, who has been on bail, appeared before the court via telephone.
The court heard the prosecution and defence had lengthy discussions about the matter prior to this resolution.
Raska had earlier pleaded guilty to three counts of drug possession but had pleaded not guilty to a range of other charges.
On Tuesday morning he pleaded guilty to two counts of drug supply, relating to MDMA and ice, driving with both those drugs present in his system and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
The latter charge related to $6395 cash police found in his vehicle.
Two further drug possession charges were withdrawn.
Ms Stafford adjourned the matter for a sentencing hearing on November 8.
“Mr Raska will have to appear at court in person for sentencing,” Ms Stafford said.
“I’m going to order a pre-sentence report.”
That report will consider whether or not alternatives to custody will be suitable for Raska.
Raska remains on bail ahead of his sentencing.
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