Top End mechanic Kyle James Carleton allegedly busted with cash, drugs, gun

A Darwin defence barrister has called the case against his alleged gunslinging, drug dealing, cashed-up client “mediocre at best”. Find out why here.

A mechanic accused of smuggling weapons, tainted cash and drugs has told the court he had legitimate reasons for the alleged contraband.

Kyle James Carleton made a plea for bail during his prison video link appearance at Darwin Local Court on Monday.

It has been alleged self-employed mechanic was stopped after being spotted driving erratically along the Stuart Highway, at Pinelands, Palmerston on Thursday September 1.

Police allegedly busted Carleton with an unregistered .38 calibre revolver, ammunition, $23,560 in cash and a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine during a roadside stop.

However, his defence barrister said the case against his client was “mediocre at best”.

The court heard the 32-year-old had explanations for the most major charges, unregistered firearms possession and the suspected tainted cash.

Drugs and cash found in Pinelands by police. Picture: Supplied by NT Police

His defence said Carleton “forgot” about the unregistered pistol found in the drivers side door.

“That firearm was given to him and it was meant to surrender it to police,” he said.

“He was in the process of, but forgot.”

His defence said there was no evidence that Carleton had fired the weapon.

He said a large laster pointer, which is a controlled weapon, was used while “playing with his kids while out bush”.

“Again, it may be a controlled item, but the issue with the laser pointer is that its only a weapon when used,” he said.

Prosecutor Lajita Allan-Agnew said the wads of cash were believed to be the proceeds of crime, but defence said the money was to buy a new car.

He presented a vehicle transfer application as evidence, saying Carleton had sold his car for $5000 in August.

“The reason he had the money was for a legal purpose,” he said.

The defence barrister said the drug possession allegations appeared more serious than the reality.

He said “chips” or “scraps” of methamphetamines were seized, and should only amount to a minor possession charge.

Carleton’s representative said while supplying less than a commercial quantity carried a very serious penalty — with a maximum of 14 years in prison — prosecutors were assuming that a hefty sentence would be handed down.

“Its been imputed by the prosecution that because there’s a maximum, that’s what he will get,” he said.

As part of a proposed bail scheme, “checks and balances” were suggested including electronic monitoring, random drug tests, check-ins with police and a curfew at his mother’s home.

“It would create a very tight loop around him. And should breach that he would breached exceedingly quickly,” he said.

Ms Allan-Agnew said the crown opposed bail, saying Carleton had a long history of breaching bail conditions and community orders.

Judge Alan Woodcock said it was a “slightly unusual case” as there appeared to be valid explanations for some of the more serious charges.

“On the face of it, it appears quite serious. But drilling down into it the matters of information … that does seem to be a matter that will not succeed.”

Mr Woodcock said a large part of the Crown’s case appeared to be “premised” on text messages.

“But the most significant for me is driving around with an unregistered pistol in the drawer of his car with ammunition,” he said.

Mr Woodcock said Carleton’s alleged criminal history included violent offences and possession of weapons and breaches of court orders.

“I would very much like to give him bail, remand is unacceptable at the moment,” Mr Woodcock said.

“For the purposes of bail, ultimately (with) the history of being armed, he was driving around with an unregistered pistol.

“It seems to me no court order is going to address those concerns.”

Mr Woodcock denied bail, and remanded him to custody to reappear at Darwin Local Court on November 23 for a preliminary examination mention.

He will face charges of possessing an unregistered firearm and ammunition while unlicensed, failing to meet storage requirements, possessing a controlled weapon, possess property in the commission of an offence, and drug possession.