Emu Park rugby league club member Aaron Motto busted with cocaine

A long-term Aurizon employee and volunteer rugby league coaching coordinator “foolishly” turned to drugs after his 20-year marriage broke down. Find out how his addiction was detected.

Aaron William John Motto, 45, was seen on CCTV handling clip-seal bags of what looked like drugs in a bum bag at a Blackwater pub on July 26, 2022, and the police were called, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on July 25.

A long-term Aurizon employee and rugby league volunteer coaching coordinator who “foolishly” turned to drugs after his 20-year marriage broke down was busted handling drugs in a bumbag in a pub on camera.

Aaron William John Motto, 45, was seen on CCTV handling clip-seal bags of what looked like drugs in a bum bag at a Blackwater pub on July 26, 2022, and the police were called, the Supreme Court in Rockhampton heard on July 25.

Justice Graeme Crow said police located Motto in the pokies area and found him in possession of 13 clip-seal bags containing 1.485 grams of cocaine in 4.375 grams of substance.

More than six months later, police searched Motto’s residence and located a handful of drugs including 1.581 grams of cocaine in 15.359 grams of substance, along with 0.621 grams of pure MDA in 6.092 grams of substance, $3210 cash, scales and clip-seal.

“The cocaine had been cut in caffiene and lidocaine,” Justice Crow said.

Motto told the police the cash was from “a wishing well” at his birthday party recently, but this was not accepted and the Crown prosecutor claimed the money was the proceeds from the drugs.

Motto was arrested and remanded in custody for 481 days.

Defence lawyer Darren Robinson provided the court a letter of apology by Motto, along with character reference letters including one from the president of the Emu Park Rugby League Club.

“In terms of an explaination of his behaviour, but not an excuse, essentially it relates to the breakdown of his marriage,” Mr Robinson said.

“He was married for 20 years and in a relationship for 22 years.

“All this offending, including the prior conviction for the marijuana, occured in that 13-month period.”

The court heard Motto was born in Bowen, completed year 10 in Cloncurry and worked for five years in various jobs before doing a diesel fitter apprenticeship with Aurizon where he has worked for the past 22 years.

Motto quit his job with Aurizon when he was denied bail on these offences.

Mr Robinson said Motto was still supported by his family, including his five siblings, who “he has promised he will never be before a court again”.

Justice Crow said the material before him showed the father-of-four had been actively involved in the Rockhampton community as well as the football club with the reference from the club president speaking highly of Motto and this offending being out of character.

“It was in the breakdown of your relationship that you foolishly turned to the use of drugs.

“He records that you’ve expressed that you’re ashamed of what you’ve done as you should be.

“He says apart from the drug activity, you’ve been a volunteer in a wide range of ongoing hospital events and sporting events; so you’ve given back to the community which is to your credit.”

Motto pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing a dangerous drug, one of possessing a thing used in connection with the possession of a dangerous drug, one of possessing property suspected acquired for the purpose of committing a drug offence andg one of possessing property suspected of being proceeds of a drug offence.

Justice Crow sentenced Motto to 481 days prison and declared 481 days presentence custody as time served.

Originally published as Emu Park rugby league club member Aaron Motto busted with cocaine