OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 10, Issue 483, 27 April 1993, Page 13

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

The following cases were heard by Judge Richard Watson in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Ohakune police sergeant Bob Evans appeared for the prosecution. Change of Plea Martin Gorden Jahnke, 38, painter decorator of Ohakune, who had earlier pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to produce opium (a Class B drug), changed his plea to guilty when he appeared for a defended hearing last Thursday. Court heard how Jahnke had approached the occupants of a house in Shannon Street, Ohakune, when he noticed that their glasshouse contained some poppy plants and he had been given permission to cut these poppies. In remanding Jahnke at large to 20 May Judge Watson asked for a report saying that as the charge carried a seven-year prison sentence and because of previous drug-re-lated offences, a full report should be made available before sentence was imposed. Counsel: Brian Mason Three associated charges Gene Henare, 19, unemployed of Raetihi, entered one guilty and two not-guilty pleas when he faced three charges relating to offences which occurred last month. He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while disqualified on 16 March but pleaded not guilty to one charge of unlawfully taking a 1974 Ford Falcon valued at $1,500 on 15 March and to one charge of burglary of the Timber Museum Village on State Highway One between 13 and 16 March. He was remanded to appear on all three charges to 20 May and ordered not to drive a mo-tor-vehicle during the remand period.

Curfew imposed Richard Craig Taura, 19, forestry worker of Raetihi, entered the same pleas as the previous defendant (Henare) when he appeared on similar charges. He pleaded guilty to a charge of driving while disqualified on State Highway 4 on 15 March but pleaded not guilty to a charge of unlawfully taking a 1974 Ford Falcon valued at $1,500 on or about 15 March and to one charge of breaking and entering the Timber Museum Village on State Highway 1 between 13 and 16 March. He was remanded on bail to appear on all three charges to 20 May and told that he must not associate with Gene Henare during the remand period and to reside at a different address. He was also ordered to observe a curfew from 8pm to 6am daily and told that he must not drive during the remand period. He was told that a breach of any one of these bail conditions would result in him being remanded in custody. Counsel: Paul Brown Party to burglary Jerry Maxwell Moses Tamatea, 19, unemployed of Ohakune, was remanded on a cKarge of being party to breaking and entering a dwelling house in Lakes Road on 19 February. He is to appear again on 20 May to answer this charge as well as for a defended hearing on a receiving charge to which he had earlier pleaded not guilty. In the meantime he must continue to observe a curfew at 6 Moore Street, Ohakune, from 8pm-7am. Counsel: Paul Brown Not to associate Bessina Tui Reinanu Pehi, 19, Kohanga-reo worker of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on receiving charges to

which she had earlier pleaded guilty. Court heard how Pehi - "a very young 19-year old" - had been influenced by the bad company she kept though it was noted that the money she had received from the sale of the stolen television set had been used to purchase food and not alcohol. "Your previous associates - including one who is currently out of circulation much to the relief of the local community - are all familiar with the Court system and the probation officer's report recommending that you be removed from this bad influence seems appropriate," said Judge Watson. In placing Pehi under nine-months supervision Judge Watson ordered her to return to reside at home and not to associate with Jerry Maxwell Moses Tamatea, Clayton Zohs and Hari Rewi. Counsel: Paul Brown Charge of burglary Peter James Green, market garden employee of Ohakune, was remanded to appear on 20 May on a charge of burglary in Broadhead Avenue in Wanganui on 18 November last year. He was ordered to observe a curfew from 7pm to 8pm at 22 Moore Street, Ohakune during the remand period. Counsel: Paul Brown "Imaginative name" Hiona Hawkins, 17, high-school student of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of giving a false name and address when stopped while driving in Taumarunui on 8 April. When asked by Jiidge Watson how he had come up with such an "imaginative name" as 'Marshall Campbell', Hawkins replied that he had "just made it up". He was convicted and discharged on this charge but was sentenced to 20-

hours community service in remission of outstanding fines. Eight convictions for same offence Jason Thomas Reeve, unemployed, was told that the disqualified driving offence he was now facing (in Thames Street, Ohakune on 20 January) was his eighth such conviction, four of which had also been associated with drink-driving offences. Judge Watson said that he was calling for a probation officer's report to see if a prison sentence was avoidable when all the iriformation about these previous convictions was available. Reeve was remanded at large until 20 May. Counsel: Paul Brown Intention to defraud Lorna Marie Thompson, 20, soloparent of Pipiriki, was to have appeared on three charges of using documents with the intention to defraud in order to obtain a pecuniary advantage to herself last year. One charge involved property of New Zealand Mail on 22 April 1992, one of using a Westpak Bank cheque for $216.91 on 23 April 1992 and one of using a Trust Bank Cash-flow card to obtain $220 on 24 April 1992. When Court learned that defendant was pregnant and was on her way to Wanganui for the birth, the case was adjourned to 20 May. Theft of roofing iron Alex Robert McGinniss, 28, labourer of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to stealing six sheets of roofing iron from a property in Ameku Road, Raetihi on 11 April. Court heard that defendant had been interrupted by the owner of the property while he was removing the old roofing iron, valued at

$60 from a shed which had collapsed several years ago. McGinniss returned the iron after being confronted by the owner. He was convicted and fined $75, court costs $95. Counsel: Brian Mason Final remand Brendan Carl Scott, 29, unemployed of Ohakune, appeared to defend a charge of possessing a Class C drug (cannabis seeds) on 10 December last year. However, when it was learned that the chief prosecution witness (a police officer) had recently been transferred to Nelson and was unable to attend Ohakune Court last Thursday due to other commitments, defendant was remanded to appear again on 20 May and advised that this would be the final remand if the case was unable to proceed. Counsel: Brian Mason Drink-driving charge Rodney Cecil Bentley, 37, of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with an excess breath alcohol count of 841/1 on State Highway One at Tokoroa on 26 February. He was remanded to appear for a probation officer's report and sentence on 20 May and told that he must not drive a motor-vehicle during the remand period. Counsel: Brian Mason Assaults on females The following defendants appeared on charges of assaults against females. Patrick Renata Condon, 40, shed-hand of Raetihi on 26 December 1992. Remanded at large to 20 May. Colin Barry Phillips, 37, bushman of Raetihi, on 24 February. Remanded to 20 May. Counsel: Paul Brown. George Charles Roy

Hinana, 22, saw-operator of Raetihi. Remanded without plea to 20 May and ordered not to asso-

ciate or communicate with complainant during the remand period. Counsel: Paul Brown