Inmates smashed windows and set fires in 41-minute Lotus Glen prison riot, court hears

Three prisoners who set fires and smashed windows at Lotus Glen Correctional Facility have each had 12 to 14 months added to their jail time after pleading guilty to the riot.

Three young men have had time added to their sentences after pleading to guilty to a riot at Lotus Glen Correctional Facility in January 2024. PHOTO: Katherine Kokkonen

Three prisoners who set fires and smashed windows at Lotus Glen Correctional Facility in January last year have each had 12 to 14 months added to their jail time after pleading guilty to the riot, with aggravation and wilful damage of property.

The riot happened on the afternoon of January 14, 2024, at the Mareeba prison, and was triggered when Warren Fred Pilot, 23, became upset that guards would not move him to be closer to his younger brother, the court was told.

Pilot, who was the oldest of the three rioters, is serving five years and has prior convictions for riot and grievous bodily harm.

He was sentenced to an additional 14 months jail on top of his current sentence, which expires in November 2026.

Warren Fred Pilot, 23; Maximus Maynard Tabuai, 20; and Charlie Samson Sykes, 19; have pleaded guilty to one count of riot with aggravation and wilful damage to property . Picture: Marc McCormack

Crown Prosecutor Christian Peters said Pilot and Maximus Maynard Tabuai, 20, were the main aggressors in the riot, arming themselves with wooden poles, electric clippers and a bucket to smash walls and windows of the officers’ station, and throwing food and papers.

Tabuai was sentenced to an additional 13 months jail.

He said Charlie Samson Sykes, 19, also participated but removed himself to the exercise yard before the “crescendo”.

Sykes was sentenced to an extra 356 days jail with immediate release because he had already served the time on remand.

Mr Peters said the men caused $6000 worth of damage in the 41-minute riot, which was ended by the prison’s tactical response unit using capsicum spray.

The court was told the men started two fires, one in a mop bucket, and another using toilet paper, and tried to throw t-shirts over the closed circuit TV cameras.

“It strikes at the heart of the administration of justice,” Mr Peters said.

The convicted rioters have spent most of their adult lives in prison, starting fires and causing $6000 worth of damage to walls and windows at Lotus Glen in January 2024

Cairns District Court Judge Dean Morzone said all three men were young and had spent most of their adult lives in prison.

He noted that all men had spent some time in isolation or solitary after the riot.

“You caused significant damage and it compromised the safety of prisoners and officers,” Judge Morzone said.

He said Pilot and Tabuai would be eligible to apply for parole immediately because of the time they had already served.

Originally published as Inmates smashed windows and set fires in 41-minute Lotus Glen prison riot, court hears