CCC drops multiple charges from investigation at Capricornia Correctional Centre

Seven prisoner officers were charged with 12 serious criminal offences following an investigation by Queensland’s crime watchdog in 2019 . Here’s what has happened since.

Capricorn Correctional Centre at Etna Creek outside Rockhampton.

In 2019 seven prison officers from the Capricornia Correctional Centre were served with court notices for 12 offences, following an investigation from the state’s corruption watchdog.

Of this number, one charge is still outstanding, two have been fined and three have been dismissed.

Sadly, one of the officers involved, Philip Storey, passed away on February 25, 2020, aged 56. His charges were dismissed a month after his death.

The Crime and Corruption Commission conducted an investigation in 2018 and 2019, into the conduct of Queensland Corrective Services officers, supervisors and manager at the Rockhampton jail.

The investigation, and other matters relating to Queensland correction facilities, was dubbed Taskforce Flaxton.

A government report detailing Taskforce Flaxton stated three of the officers had their charges discontinued due to “questions of dishonesty and credibility issues with the witnesses being prisoners”.

Queensland Corrective Services was asked if the officers are still employed at the prison however they declined to comment and stated it does not comment on “individual disciplinary matters”.

Melita Williams. Photo Sharyn O'Neill / The Morning Bulletin

TIMELINE:

April 4, 2019: Three officers suspended, effective immediately, pending the outcome of CCC investigation.

October 28, 2019: Seven officers charged announced

November 25, 2019: All fronted Rockhampton Magistrates Court for the first time.

The officers and charges included:

• Christopher John Muggeridge: Three counts of misconduct in relation to public office. Two of the counts has been discontinued and he still faces one count of misconduct. His last court appearance was on June 9, 2021, with the next appearance to be scheduled.

• Garth Phillip Grant (custodial corrections officer): Two counts of misconduct in relation to public office. Charges dismissed in Rockhampton District Court on April 8, 2021.

• Keith William Johnson (custodial corrections officer): One count of misconduct in relation to public office. Charges dismissed in Rockhampton District Court on April 8, 2021.

• Neil Alfred Many (custodial corrections officer): One count of misconduct in relation to public office. Charges dismissed on April 21, 2021 in Rockhampton District Court, due to lack of evidence. The circumstances of this matter were connected with Johnson and Grant’s matter and the CCC determined there were “no longer reasonable prospects of a conviction”.

• Arthur Aspinall (secure area unit manager, custodial corrections officer): One count of disclosing the existence of a confidential notice. He pleaded guilty and was fined $1500 with no criminal conviction recorded on December 20, 2019 in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court.

• Melita Jane Williams: One count of common assault. Pleaded guilty in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court in January 2021, fined $650 with no conviction recorded.

This is the seventh story in an investigation of the Capricornia Correctional Centre, compiled by The Morning Bulletin’s Vanessa Jarrett. See the other stories here.

Originally published as CCC drops multiple charges from investigation at Capricornia Correctional Centre