Cam Marschke’s emotional court exchange before jail over weapons, drugs, stolen goods

A young concreter had an emotional court exchange with his mother as he was sentenced for his role in a weapons and drugs bust at a Qld jail carpark.

An intelligence-led operation at Maryborough Correctional Centre seized a substantial quantity of drugs, weapons and other illegal items from the Maryborough prison carpark, with one of the two arrested sentenced to prison on July 15.

A young man spoke to his emotional mother in court after being busted with an illegal stash of weapons, drugs, and stolen goods outside a Qld jail.

Cam Marschke, 21, was caught in a car park outside Maryborough prison with an illegal firearm, weapons including a machete, tomahawk and explosives, more than $6000 in stolen cash, GHB and methamphetamine, drug implements, stolen number plates and other tainted property.

He appeared at Gympie Magistrates Court via videolink on July 15, pleading guilty to 15 charges arising from the incident on May 22.

Marschke was 20 years old and on parole at the time of his arrest, the court heard.

QPS released vision of the haul outside of Maryborough Correctional Centre on May 30, a week after the operation.

After police found the stash inside a vehicle during an intelligence-led operation, a 24-year-old was also arrested in connection with the incident, QPS said in a May 30 media release.

Solicitor Chris Anderson said, “there was no evidence suggesting use of the weapons,” and that Marschke regretted his role.

Mr Anderson alleged Marschke “was not the person who originally took (the firearm)”, identified by the court as a handgun, but that the 21-year-old concreter accepted responsibility for possessing it.

Magistrate Bevan Hughes said Marschke had accrued a two-page criminal history including police evasion, which he said was significant “already for a young man”.

Cam Marschke was charged for possession of a category H firearm (handgun) on July 15.

Magistrate Hughes told Marschke his mother was sitting in the courtroom.

“I bet you your mum’s here in court because she wants you to have a good life and a long life,” the Magistrate said.

“You are letting her down.”

Magistrate Hughes then invited Marschke’s mother to speak to her son.

“You alright? I’m sorry mum,” Marschke said after seeing his mother start to cry in the courtroom.

“I know,” his mother said.

“I’ll give you a call later,” the young man said.

Magistrate Hughes said Marschke had “good job prospects” and his “rehabilitation prospects are still sound”.

The Magistrate sentenced Marschke to 12 months jail time for his weapon offenses, six months for receiving tainted property, and convicted and not further punished him for his possession of drugs and paraphernalia.

His convictions were recorded, and he will be eligible for parole on May 22, 2026.

Originally published as Cam Marschke’s emotional court exchange before jail over weapons, drugs, stolen goods