Levi James Brown faces Mackay court for dangerous driving, evasion charges
A driver who allegedly committed a string of traffic offences while on a return to prison warrant has been warned his rush to plead guilty might make things worse.
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A disqualified driver allegedly evaded police after driving dangerously in an unregistered and uninsured car.
Then, two days later, he failed to remain at a crash scene.
Mackay Magistrates Court on Friday heard Levi James Brown was on a return to prison warrant and had surrendered at Marian Police Station on Thursday.
As Mr Brown listened via videolink from the Mackay watch house, Magistrate Damian Dwyer read out his nine new charges.
The court heard the 31-year-old Kuttabul man was charged with evading police and dangerously operating a vehicle along Celeber Dr in Andergrove on May 6.
On May 8, Mr Brown was charged with failing to remain at the scene of a crash along Wood St in the Mackay CBD.
On both occasions, he allegedly drove an uninsured and unregistered vehicle, and did not have a driver’s licence as it was disqualified by court order.
Solicitor Daniel Lane, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, told the court Mr Brown had declined to speak to a lawyer and instead wanted to plead guilty to all charges.
Mr Dwyer suggested Mr Brown seek legal advice as his “emotional” state may be influencing his judgement.
“If you get a period of imprisonment for the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, by law it must be cumulative with the period you’re already serving,” he said.
“If it were me, I’d be talking to a lawyer.”
The court heard Mr Brown was in 2022 convicted for dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, and there was another matter presently before the court that involved his brother.
Mr Brown agreed to delay entering pleas and Mr Dwyer adjourned the matter until Monday.
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Originally published as Levi James Brown faces Mackay court for dangerous driving, evasion charges
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