QLD Court appearance for Capricornia Correctional Centre prison riot

A father involved in an 18-hour riot at a Central Queensland prison covered a CCTV camera and held up the Aboriginal flag while on the roof of one of the buildings.

John Mark Curtis Geehoy.

A father involved in an 18-hour riot at a Central Queensland prison that caused about $1.2 million worth of damage covered a CCTV camera and held up the Aboriginal flag while on the roof of one of the buildings.

John Mark Curtis Geehoy, 29, pleaded guilty in Rockhampton District Court on November 14 to rioting at Capricornia Correctional Centre on October 21, 2021.

Crown prosecutor Ken Spinaze said the riot involved more than 100 prisoners, lasted about 18 hours and caused about $1.2 million worth of damage to the prison.

Mr Spinaze said Geehoy escaped from his unit, S3, and covered a CCTV camera on the fence bordering the unit.

John Mark Curtis Geehoy.

He said Geehoy was a member of a group that attended the residential unit of the complex, where one prisoner was armed with a pick axe and prisoners yelled demands at correctional officers.

Mr Spinaze said Geehoy was then seen with a group on a lawn area and was holding damaged garden equipment.

He said Geehoy was then later seen on a roof at the prison holding up the Aboriginal flag with another prisoner.

Mr Spinaze said Geehoy surrendered and came off the roof sometime before 6.40pm.

Damaged caused to Capricornia Correctional Centre during the October 2021 riots.

“By that stage had been involved in the riot for about nine hours,” he said.

Mr Spinaze said Geehoy was not an instigator or someone who led the riot.

“His offending is perhaps not as significant as some others,” he said.

Mr Spinaze said 64 prisoners were ultimately charged over the riot.

Damaged caused to Capricornia Correctional Centre during the October 2021 riots.

Defence barrister Maree Willey said her client’s mother died while he was a teenager and that he lost his brother shortly after.

“My client didn’t receive any counselling after those two deaths,” she said.

“He has suffered since then from depression and anxiety. It’s not been formally diagnosed.”

Ms Willey said her client, who had three children, recognised alcohol and drugs had a “detrimental impact” on him.

Damaged caused to Capricornia Correctional Centre during the October 2021 riots.

She said when her client was released from prison he intended to go to Emerald to assist his grandmother with her health.

Judge Jeff Clarke said he strongly encouraged Geehoy to talk to someone about his grief issues.

“Especially if that drives your reliance upon substances,” he said.

“The sooner you can deal with that you are going to keep getting yourself in the same hole you are in now.

“It’s a terrible waste of your life to have that holding you back.”

Judge Clarke sentenced Geehoy to 12 months prison, with immediate parole eligibility and declared 95 days of pre-sentence custody as time already served.

Originally published as QLD Court appearance for Capricornia Correctional Centre prison riot