Lions FC player Fletcher McDonald fronts court after wild night out at Fitzy’s Toowoomba
A Queensland Lions FC soccer player, who found himself in trouble with the law during a rowdy night out in Toowoomba, may have a wilful damage charge dropped following a successful submission from a leading Toowoomba lawyer.
Police & Courts
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An up-and-coming football player who was charged with a criminal offence after a rowdy night out in Toowoomba City could have a charge of wilful damage dropped.
The Lions FC Australian Cup player, Fletcher James McDonald, appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court on Friday, December 8, where a warrant for his arrest was cancelled.
The warrant was lying on file and would have been released by a magistrate if he failed to attend court and sign his bail.
Queensland’s criminal code defines wilful damage as a misdemeanour which can attract a maximum penalty of a five-year jail term.
Police allege the talented soccer player and former Toowoomba Grammar student wilfully caused damage to a DJ booth at Fitzy’s Toowoomba.
The East Toowoomba man was arrested following the alleged incident which occurred at 1am on September 10, 2023.
The 22-year-old’s solicitor Chelsea Saldumbide told the court her office’s case conferencing with police prosecutions had been successful.
“Essentially this matter is going to be resolved by way of an adult caution,” she said.
The co-director of McConnell and Saldumbide Criminal Lawyers asked for the charge to be listed before the court in January to give officers time to implement the caution.
She said when the charge was next mentioned, police prosecution is likely to drop the charge.
Magistrate Louise Shephard adjourned the matter to January 25.
“I will place Mr McDonald on bail,” she said.
“Make sure that is signed.”
According to the Queensland Police Service’s operational procedure manual, 2022, adult cautions were to be used when “dealing with lower-end, non-habitual offending without commencing a proceeding”.
The manual states a caution can only be implemented if an alleged offender is not disputing the offence.
When issuing a formal warning, QPS officers are to take the following factors into account; if the person was cautioned for a similar offence in the past, the person’s character, the seriousness of the offence, the person’s criminal history, and the person’s willingness to connect with relevant support services.
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