Frederick Heumiller denied bail after Dawson Highway drug charges

A mechanic charged with drug trafficking was already on Supreme Court bail when he was allegedly busted with drugs again.

A man was already on Supreme Court bail when he was allegedly caught with meth. PICTURE: istock

A mechanic was already on bail for alleged drug trafficking when he was caught with more drugs on the side of a highway, Rockhampton Magistrates Court has heard.

Frederick Thomas James Heumiller, 39, made an application for bail in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on July 24 after being charged with one count of buying or possessing a S4 or S8 medicine or hazardous poison, one of possessing dangerous drugs and one of possessing a used drug utensil.

The court heard he was already on Supreme Court bail at the time of the alleged offending for a charge of trafficking drugs and other related charges.

Defence lawyer Jess King said the Supreme Court charges were listed for a sentence on August 6.

She argued that defence lawyers were currently preparing for that sentencing and remanding him in custody now would hamper their ability to be ready for that.

Ms King said police allegedly found the 1.9 grams of methamphetamine wedged between the driver’s seat and centre console of the car in which Mr Heumiller was a passenger on Wednesday.

She said a female friend was driving Mr Heumiller, who was a mechanic and panel beater, to Moura to pick up a car.

When they had pulled over on the side of the Dawson Highway for Mr Heumiller to inspect the bearings on the car trailer they were towing, police drove past, did a U-turn and intercepted them.

Ms King said the pipe was found in the glove compartment and the Viagra tablets were located in the black bag her client admitted belonged to him.

However, Ms King said Mr Heumiller claimed there were no drugs in that vehicle before the driver got in as he had cleaned it out the night before in preparation for the road trip.

She said the female driver had been left alone in the vehicle for a period of time between when police drove past and when they returned.

Ms King said Mr Heumiller, who was not in the vehicle when police intercepted the pair, claimed to have no knowledge of the meth and the pipe.

She said he did admit to police he had used drugs recently and his previous breaches of the Supreme Court bail mostly involved him failing to report but there was one instance where he was found with drugs in his system.

She also said Mr Heumiller still had arrangements to make for himself and his family ahead of the Supreme Court sentence which was why he wanted to be released on bail now.

However, police prosecutor Corey O’Connor said Mr Heumiller had been bailed for the original charges, then allegedly committed further offences and was remanded in custody until he achieved Supreme Court bail.

“Unfortunately, he’s not been deterred,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said Mr Heumiller had a long-term history of drug convictions on his criminal history.

“What is clear is that he just isn’t able to stay away from drugs while he’s on bail for significant drug charges,” he said.

Magistrate Philippa Beckinsale found Mr Heumiller to be an unacceptable risk of committing further offences and refused bail.

The fresh charges were adjourned until August 6.

Originally published as Frederick Heumiller denied bail after Dawson Highway drug charges