John Joseph Dennis sentenced for Gladstone PCYC fight

Children witnessed a fight that erupted at a Central Queensland PCYC between a group of men, one armed with a baseball bat and another with a knife.

John Joseph Dennis faced Gladstone Magistrates Court on January 30.

It was 6.30pm and children were present when a fight erupted between armed men at a Gladstone PCYC.

Four or five men were involved and John Joseph Dennis, 45, was armed with a baseball bat, while his associate was armed with a knife.

Both children and adults witnessed the brawl.

Dennis pleaded guilty in Gladstone Magistrates Court on January 30 to affray.

The court heard that the reason for the “physical fight” at the PCYC on December 8 had something to do with “an associate of one of Dennis’s children”.

Gladstone Courthouse.

Solicitor Jun Pepito said Dennis, an employed father of five, didn’t really use the baseball bat and his car had been damaged in the incident.

The court heard that the co-offender was sentenced to three months’ jail, wholly suspended for 12 months, but he had a more serious criminal history than Dennis.

The court was told that Dennis had a three-page criminal history and in 2019 he was sentenced to two months’ jail with immediate parole for common assault.

Magistrate Mary Buchanan fined Dennis $1500 and a conviction was recorded.

Originally published as John Joseph Dennis sentenced for Gladstone PCYC fight