Joel Gary Zemek faces Mackay court for driving stolen cars, theft
A prisoner, awaiting sentence on a slew of driving charges and ammunition possession had hoped his case would be finalised but when he realised it was far from over, he had just one thing to say.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A single obscenity was all a Mackay prisoner could manage after learning he may spend another month behind bars.
Joel Gary Zemek had hoped to be sentenced before Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday but there was not enough time due to the number of his criminal charges.
Instead, the 32-year-old Andergrove man was arraigned (asked to enter a plea) only as Acting Magistrate Stephen Byrne read aloud the charges.
The court heard Zemek on February 12, 2023, drove an uninsured, defective, and unregistered vehicle with a stolen registration plate attached, while he did not have a licence as it had been disqualified by court order.
On the same day he was further charged with possessing ammunition and possessing a suspected stolen registration plate in Slade Point.
Ten months later on December 23, Zemek drove unlicensed in a stolen car with an incorrect registration plate attached and stole petrol from a Farleigh service station.
Two days later on Christmas Day he helped himself to someone else’s groceries.
Then on December 28 in Bloomsbury he dangerously operated a stolen car, received stolen maintenance equipment, had possession of methamphetamines and obstructed police.
On the same day in Cannonvale he wilfully damaged police property.
Then two days later he again damaged police property, this time in Mackay.
Zemek pleaded guilty to all 20 charges committed in 2023 plus receiving tainted property in October, 2020.
Mr Byrne set a long plea date for June 21 and upon realising this could mean at least another 37 days in prison, Zemek said “f--k”.
His lawyer, Adam Harvey of Harvey Legal, then told him he would monitor the court listings and bring the matter forward if he could find a free slot.
Until then, Zemek is remanded in custody.
More Coverage
Originally published as Joel Gary Zemek faces Mackay court for driving stolen cars, theft
Dole dad jailed for taxi cash theft, bottle shop break-in
A man who flogged hundreds of dollars from a Rockhampton taxi driver later left his fingerprints at the scene of a brazen daylight bottle shop break-in, it has been revealed.
Sheep shearer turns to Bible after meth-fuelled crime spree
Details of how a Central Queensland sheep shearer’s life “spiralled out of control” during his “serious” meth-fuelled crime spree have been laid bare during his sentencing.
Man flown to hospital after ‘obliterating’ power pole
Two men have been rushed to hospital after crashes in the Rockhampton region overnight. READ THE LATEST.
Shopping centre worker’s Woolies theft sign of ‘difficult times’: Magistrate
A Central Queensland woman who stole from a store in the same shopping centre where she worked has faced court where a magistrate noted the “prevalence” of cost-of-living crimes.
Baby ashes burglar also pulled off $20k jewellery heist
A rampant Rockhampton burglar who broke into a couple’s home and stole their baby’s ashes also pulled off a $20k jewellery heist and a pub theft during his crime spree, it has been revealed.
Pub worker who survived kidnap attempt busted in stolen cars, with cocaine
The victim of terrifying ambush outside a Queensland pub by a man high on meth has fronted court for her own drug-linked crimes after the nightmare near-abduction foreshadowed a series of tragedies.