Four jailed after public pressure

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 417, 17 December 1991, Page 13

Four jailed after public pressure

In passing sentences of imprisonment on four offenders convicted of burglary last Thursday in the Ohakune District Court, Judge R L Watson said that he wa s concerned about the prevalence of burglaries in the area and that the Court had a duty to reflect the views of the community whether it was burglary of private residences or commercial Dronerties.

All the offenders sentenced to imprisonment had previously appeared before the Court on similar charges. A fifth offender who received a jail term had been convicted of assault on a female and unlawful possession of a firearm (a sawn-off shotgun) while intoxicated and under circumstances which could have resulted in much more serious charges being laid. The following cases were heard: 'Short sharp lesson' Mark Anthony Evans, 20, unemployed of Rangataua, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the premises of the Ohakune Energy Centre in Clyde Street on 12 November at 2.30am. Defendant had been drinking with friends in Rangataua earlier in the evening and had accompanied them when they drove to Ohakune and broke into the building where they took tools and confectionery which they later hid in the Karioi Forest. All the property, with the exception of the confectionery, had been recovered. When passing a sentence of 1 months imprisonment Judge Watson told defendant that he was no stranger to burglary and needed a short, sharp lesson. Defendant was also disqualified for 6 months on a driving charge. Counsel: Paul Brown 'Disappointed' Timothy James Home, 22, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering an empty house in Stokes Valley on 8 November with intent to commit a crime therein. When apprehendcd by police at the house de-

fendant told them he "was disappointed there wasn't much gear in the place." He was convicted and sentenced to 4 months imprisonment. Counsel: Paul Brown Concurrent sentences James Manuel Honana, 26, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on one charge of burglary of the Rendezvous Dairy in Goldfinch Street on 22 October and one charge of conspiring to defeat the course of justice by obtaining a bogus receipt from the Ohakune Hotel in an attempt to conceal a large quantity of stolen beer. On the burglary charge defendant was convicted and sentenced to 4 months imprisonment. On the conspiracy charge he was sentenced to a jail term of 14 days to be served concurrently with the burglary sentence. Counsel: Paul Brown Cumulative jail terms Robert Francis Paul, 40, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared for sentencing on two charges. On the charge of breaking and entering the Rendzevous Dairy on 22 October he was given a 4-month jail term. On the charge of receiving a Honda 3-wheel motorcycle valued at $3,000 defendant was convicted and sentenced to a cumulative sentence of 1 month imprisonment, making a total of 5 months. Assault on a female Anthony Pikari, 24 of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on three charges.

On a charge of assaulting a female, Judge Watson sentenced defendant to 6 months imprisonment saying that he was no stranger to violence and had previously appeared on similar charges. On the two firearms charges - one of unlawfully possessing a sawnoff shotgun and one of possessing a sawn-off shotgun while intoxicated, defendant was sentenced to a 1 -month prison term on each to be served concurrently. On completion of his prison term he was ordered to undertake an anger management and alcohol assessment/treatment course. Counsel: Brian Mason Charged jointly Robert Thomas Allen of Wanganui and Dennis Taihana Tuirirangi, 44, unemployed of Pipiriki, appeared jointly on a charge of killing a cattle beast on 19 October with the intention of stcaling the carcass. Both defendants pleaded not guilty and were remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 20 February for a defended hearing. Counsel: Paul Brown Ten charges George Lee Hemara, 22, unemployed of Rangataua, was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 30 January for a defended hearing on a total of ten charges including several related to the theft of railways property at Tangiwai and endangering transport. In the expectation that this defended hearing is going to take up much of the Court's time on 30 January, a special condition that the defendant makes his appearance at the Court at the earlier time of 9am instead of the usual time of 10am was made. Counsel: Paul Brown Curfew imposed Darryl Wayne Pickery, 21, unemployed of

Ohakune, was remanded without plea until 30 January on three charges related to offences which occurred during November. He was charged with breaking and entering the Turoa staff hostel in Clyde Street, Ohakune on 12 November with intent to commit a crime therein. He was charged with cultivating cannabis plant on 26 November and with attempting to steal petrol from Ruapehu Motors on 29 November. Conditions of bail included the provision that he reside at his family home at 22 Arawa Street, Ohakune, and that he observe a curfew at that address between 8pm and 7am each day. Another condition of bail was that he was not to enter licensed premises or purchase liquor before his next Court appearance. Counsel: Paul Brown Community service Clyde William Selwyn Rennie, 19, unemployed of Rangataua, was convicted and sentenced on two charges and remanded on bail to the 30 January on ahother two charges. For driving with excess breath alcohol in the main street of Masterton on 18 October and for non-payment of fines totalling $200 he

was convicted and sentenced to 80 hours community service and disqualified for 7 months. On a charge of breaking and entering the Ohakune Energy Centre on 12 November and on a charge of making a false statement to Detective Larry Meredith of Ohakune he was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 30 January. A condition of bail is that he resides at home with his mother and observes a curfew from 8pm to 7am each day until his next Court appearance. Counsel: Brian Mason Possession of pipes Elvis Aaron Te Aramoana Reuben, 21, unemployed of Ohakune, was convicted and sentenced to 20 hours community service when he pleaded guilty to a charge of possessing three home-made pipes for the purpose of smoking cannabis leaf on 22 November Defended hearing Graham Alan Snowball, 32, shepherd of Raetihi, was remanded at large without plea on a charge of stealing two Fresian-Jersey-cross calves together valued at $600 the property of Owen Maru on or about 2 November to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 30 January.

Counsel: Paul Brown Receiving Rebecca Paewa Taiaroa, 21, solo parent beneficiary of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on a charge of receiving from Aaron Bevan a skilsaw, a chainsaw and an electric drill together valued at $1,700, the property of Trevor Fredericks, stolen from a shed in Raetihi knowing them to have been stolen or dishonestly obtained. On this charge she was convicted and sentenced to 50 hours community service. On a charge of

failing to pay outstanding fines to the value of $595 she was convicted and sentenced to 60 hours community service the total being 110 hours of community service. Counsel: Brian Mason 'Confused' Moses Jerry Tamatea, 18, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on two related charges. One charge was that he drove while disqualified, the other charge be'ing that he obtained a drivers licence while Turn page 16

Ohakune District Court

Frompagel3 disqualified. Court heard that when the defendant was arrested and convicted earlier by a traffic officer for driving without a licence he was advised to obtain one. When he did so and passed "with flying colours" he had sat the test under the supervision of another traffic officer who didn't know that defendant was still under a period of disqualification. Judge Watson said that defendant "was confused" and had made a genuine mistake thinking that he could obtain a drivers licence while disqualified so that he could drive legally. as soon as his period of disqualification expired on 15 January 1992.

"Defendant lacks the intellect to understand the complexities of the legal system," he said. Defendant was remanded to appear again on 30 January and advised to sit the driving test again before that date but after the period of disqualification had expired. Counsel: Paul Brown Remanded without plea Eugene Rangi Wilson 21, unemployed of Rangataua, was remanded without plea to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 30 January on a charge of breaking and entering the Ohakune Energy Centre on 12 November 1991. He was ordered to re-

side at his home address, Waione Farms, and observe a curfew from 8pm to 7am each day until his next Court appearance. Counsel: Paul Brown Fathers Day prank? Peter Wayne Arahanga, 28, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge of excess breath alcohol and was remanded at large to appear in the Ohakune District Court for a defended hearing on 30 January. Court heard how defendant was found naked and intoxicated behind the wheel of a stationary car in Ohakune Junction of Father's Day. Counsel: Brian Mason Not guilty plea John Barry Orr, 40, unemployed of Raetihi,

pleaded not guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol in Clyde Street on 1 November. He was remanded to appear again on 20 February for a defended hearing. Counsel: Brian Mason Three charges Ian Thomas Hemara, 17, unemployed of Ohakune, faced three charges on which he was remanded to appear again on 30 January. One was a charge of burglary, one was a charge of driving without a licence, the third a charge of intentionally damaging a window. A condition of bail was that defendant should reside with his sister in Carters Terrace, Ohakune, and observe a

curfew from 8pm to 7am each day until his next Court appearance. Counsel: Brian Mason Rubbish tip find' Mark Tairoa Haddon, 24, unemployed of Ohakune, was convicted and sentenced to 50 hours of community service when he appeared for sentence.on a charge of receiving a Robin Engine valued at $500 the property of the Ruapehu District Council on 17 October. He had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge saying that he had found the engine at the rubbish tip. On a charge of failing to pay outstanding fines he was convicted and sentenced to 20 hours of community service.

Counsel:

Brian

Mason