Batemans Bay: Joshua Hicks, Adam O’Connell, Kyralee Teale return to court after alleged Catalina Club theft
A trio accused of playing a part in the alleged theft of an ATM and $50k from a South Coast country club moments after two of them allegedly torched a KFC to “tie up” police and emergency services, have returned to court.
A trio accused of playing a part in the alleged theft of an ATM and $50k from a South Coast country club moments after two of them allegedly torched a KFC to “tie up” police and emergency services, have returned to court.
Joshua Hicks, 26, Adam O’Connell, 37, and Kyralee Teale, 28, are each accused of roles in the early-morning September 29 robbery at Catalina Country Club on Beach Rd, Batemans Bay.
All three cases were mentioned in Batemans Bay Local Court on Monday before Magistrate Doug Dick.
Hicks faces charges of aggravated break and enter, destroying property, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
He is in custody and has not entered pleas.
O’Connell – also behind bars and yet to enter pleas – is charged with aggravated break and enter, stealing a motor vehicle, damaging property by fire, and dealing with the proceeds of crime.
Teale is the only one of the three who has pleaded not guilty to recklessly dealing with the proceeds of crime and receiving stolen property.
Police allege Hicks and O’Connell lit a fire in the Batemans Bay KFC loading bay to “tie up” emergency services before heading to the club, where they allegedly smashed a window, stole a cash redemption machine, loaded it into a ute, and fled.
It allegedly contained about $50,000.
Teale is not accused of being with the duo during the alleged arson and club theft.
The trio were arrested the next day in Surfside, with police claiming Teale helped hide Hicks and the cash.
She remains the only one on bail, after Hicks recently had a release application refused by Magistrate Brian van Zuylen, who said the case was too serious and the risk of reoffending too high.
On Monday, Mr Dick adjourned the case for charge certification.
Lawyers Jack Dunn — for Hicks and Teale — and Rosemary Benet for O’Connell did not oppose.
The trio will return to Batemans Bay Local Court on February 2.
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