Echuca father Mark Rhys Holderhead charged with commercial meth trafficking

An accused drug dealing Echuca dad has made a bid for freedom after he was allegedly busted trafficking meth right under the noses of his wife and kids.

Accused drug dealing Echuca dad Mark Rhys Holderhead was allegedly busted trafficking meth out of his family home.

An Echuca man was allegedly busted with a commercial quantity of meth and a “high powered” rifle with a round in the chamber on the floor where his four-year-old could reach it, a court has heard.

Mark Rhys Holderhead, 42, applied for bail at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday after he was remanded on commercial methamphetamine and gun charges.

Police executed a search warrant at his High St address on September 4 where he lives with his wife and his two children.

Mark Holderhead applied for bail after being allegedly busted on September 4 trafficking meth.

Police allege Mr Holderhead ran into his bedroom and shut the door when they started the search.

Inside the bedroom in a walk-in wardrobe police allegedly found several bags of “white crystal substance” believed to be methamphetamine totalling about 104g, two bags of cannabis and a “military rifle” with the serial number filed off.

Police allegedly revealed an account book that contained “multiple names, phone numbers and dollar amounts” believed to be related to drug deals.

Police also allegedly seized $12,000 in cash hidden in an air vent and $1800 from Mr Holderhead’s wallet alleged to be proceeds of crime.

The rifle, which police believe was stolen, was allegedly found with a round in the chamber and the action open – ready to shoot – and the drugs were allegedly strewn on the floor where his children — aged 15 and four — had easy access.

Police allege the drugs and gun were within easy reach of Mr Holderhead’s children.

“Everywhere we looked and turned there were bags of white crystal substance,” police alleged.

“At any stage the younger child could have easily ingested some of (the drugs).”

Police also allegedly seized several packs of oxycodone, a powerful opioid, that he did not have a prescription for.

During a search of the property, police allegedly uncovered a variety of rifle ammunition and a large bag of shotgun shells, along with several Makita cordless power tools and two electric guitars alleged to be stolen.

Police opposed Mr Holderhead’s bail bid, alleging he was an unacceptable risk of reoffending and any address in Echuca was nearby alleged associates named in the book seized during the search.

Police allegedly seized a stolen “military rifle” from Mr Holderheads’ bedroom.

Mr Holderhead’s legal aid lawyer Robert Morgan argued that the threshold of “exceptional circumstances” to let the accused drug dealer out on bail had been met.

Mr Morgan told the court Mr Holderhead was not admitting to the substance being methamphetamine, arguing that not all of the “white crystal substances” had been tested, and police could not prove the purity of the substances seized.

Mr Morgan argued that the cash seized was legitimately traceable through bank statements to a joint account with his wife, and police could not prove that the funds were proceeds of crime.

Mr Morgan said the funds had come from the sale of an Echuca property, and the money belonged to Mr Holderhead’s wife who had stored it as an emergency fund.

Mr Morgan further argued that police could not prove that Mr Holderhead had intended to use the rifle for any “nefarious” acts like “armed robbery”, or that he had stolen it.

Magistrate Russell Kelly adjourned the bail application to September 24. Mr Holderhead will remain remanded in custody.