Lara man Bryce Goette jailed for ‘significant’ cocaine trafficking

A Magistrate who said a Lara man’s cocaine trafficking was like “Al Pacino in Scarface” handed him a “merciful” prison sentence that could see him walk free before Christmas.

Lara man Bryce Goette has been jailed for the “significant” trafficking of cocaine and an attempt to facilitate the sale of a shotgun to undercover police operatives.

A Lara man who sold more than $23,000 in cocaine to undercover police, before attempting to sell them a gun, has been likened to Al Pacino’s drug lord character in the film Scarface.

Local plasterer Bryce Goette sold more than 70 grams of the drug to undercover operatives over a six-week period last year and was found in possession of an air rifle he said he used for hunting.

Goette, who pleaded guilty to the charges, also took $2000 from the officers as he attempted to facilitate the sale of a sawn-off shotgun.

The Geelong Magistrates Court heard the amount of drugs Goette sold to officers escalated over the six weeks, from $700 for one gram of cocaine in mid-July to $9500 for 28 grams of the same drug.

In mid-August, while officers were purchasing 14 grams of cocaine from Goette during a prearranged meeting, they found the air rifle on a pool table and asked Goette if he would be willing to sell it to them.

Goette told the operatives the gun had been stolen during a burglary and had sentimental value to him, but he offered to contact an associate he knew was selling a sawn-off shotgun.

When told the shotgun was not owned by Goette, Magistrate John Bentley said procuring the firearm for police “sort of makes it worse”.

“These are very serious charges and you can’t deny it. Selling a sawn-off shotgun, you’re not selling that for someone to shoot rabbits. You’re selling that for a criminal enterprise,” he said.

Police executed a search at Goette’s home in September last year and found the air rifle, firearm scopes, ammunition, 27.6 grams of white powder alleged to be cocaine and green vegetable matter.

Police said the value of the drugs found during the search was estimated between $9000 and $9500.

Goette’s lawyer said he spent 31 days on remand for the offending and asked the court to place him on a community corrections order rather than impose any further term of imprisonment.

Magistrate John Bentley said the 31 days was not enough.

“How can he not go to jail? This is significant drug trafficking … it’s Al Pacino (in) Scarface practically, isn’t it?

“This is as serious as it gets. Guns, drugs … I don’t like to use the word, but that’s gangster stuff,” Mr Bentley said.

Mr Bentley handed Goette a “merciful” three month prison term, with the 31 days marked as served, and told him the remaining two months may be “substantially” decreased by lockdown discounts inside the prison.

The court heard Goette could walk free right before Christmas.

Goette was also given a 15-month community corrections order with therapeutic conditions to attend drug and alcohol programs.

Originally published as Lara man Bryce Goette jailed for ‘significant’ cocaine trafficking