Hendrickus Scholte, Shane Scholte arrested for unauthorised firearms and assault

A father and son were arrested over police allegations they threatened a man with a double-barrelled shotgun and assaulted him during an argument about cars.

A father and son were arrested over police allegations they threatened a man with unauthorised firearms and assaulted him during a heated argument about cars.

Police allege Hendrickus Scholte, 70, played a bigger role with 13 charges relating to unauthorised guns and assault. His family member Shane Scholte, 44, was charged with eight similar offences.

According to police, the two Lower Boro residents were involved in an argument with a man about cars at around 11.40pm on October 31 last year.

Shane Scholte and Hendrickus Scholte appeared in Goulburn Local Court on August 29.

Police claim to have video footage of Hendrickus Scholte assaulting the victim with a manufactured wooden handle with the intention of causing him actual bodily harm. Meanwhile, police allege Shane threatened the victim with a double-barrel 12 gauge shotgun.

Following the altercation, police conducted a search warrant on the Scholte’s Lower Boro property on November 4. Police allege they found a number of unauthorised firearms in the bedroom and shed, including an air rifle, an .303 calibre rifle, and a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun.

Shane Scholte and Hendrickus Scholte are charged with possessing unauthorised guns and assault.

Police allege the firearms were unauthorised and unregistered and neither man took precautions to store them safely. Police also allege they found ammunition for the firearms.

The father and son appeared in Goulburn Local Court on Wednesday, where a number of the charges were withdrawn for both offenders.

Hendrickus Scholte had five charges dropped and remains charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm, two counts possessing an unauthorised firearm, two counts of not keeping a firearm safely, two counts of possessing an unregistered firearm, and possessing ammunition without a licence.

Hendrickus Scholte has pleaded guilty to all of the remaining charges and he is due to be sentenced in Goulburn District Court on January 31 next year.

The crown prosecutor withdrew half of Shane Scholte’s charges, and he remains before the court for possessing an unauthorised firearm, common assault, and using an offensive weapon in company with intent to commit an indictable offence.

He is listed for a call-over on November 3 to set a trial date for the charges.