OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 520, 25 January 1994, Page 12

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Turn to Page 12 remanded for a month on a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol in Seddon Street, Raetihi, on 4 December. This remand was to allow him to seek legal advice. He is to appear again in the Ohakune District Court on 24 February to enter a plea. Refused to enter plea When Alexander W ayne

Sturgess, 22, saies representative of Raetihi, appeared on a charge of cultivating cannabis at Raetihi on 22 November 1993, he refused to enter a plea when asked to do so saying "I do not recognise a crime when there is no victim". Judge Laing told Sturgess that he had noted defendant' s refusal to enter a plea on his own behalf and that the Court would now assume that responsibility by entering a 'Not guilty' plea on defendant' s behalf. Sturgess was remanded on this not guilty plea to appear in the Ohakune District Court on 24 March. Suspended prison sentences The following four offenders were each given suspended prison sentences lastThursday, foroffences committed last year and already reported. In handing down the following sentences Judge Laing reminded each offender that burglaries on the Central Plateau had become so rife that a jail sentence was not only an option but it was expected by the community. □ Scott Nicholas Wise, 19, bush-worker of Karioi, (11 charges) was given a

12-month prison sentence suspended for two years providing he does not offend again within that period. He was also given a 6month suspended prison sentence unless he makes reparation of $3070 in full within 28 days, and a 200 hour community service sentence. Court heard that Wise had already paid some reparation and had contacted and apologised to three of the victims while still trying to contact and apologise to others. □ James Kitiona Cleary, 18, student of Ohakune, ( 1 0 charges) was given a 12month prison sentence suspended for 2 years providing he does not offend again within that period. He was also sentenced to the maximum period of 200 hours of community service and ordered to make reparation of $3958 (of which over $1000 has already been paid) at the rate of $100 per week. Court heard that a sentence of corrective training had been considered as an option but Cleary could be thankful for the support of his parents of whom he should be proud for seeing to it that he met his obligations to society. □ Steven Michael Sattler, 1 8, prunerof Raetihi

(7 charges) was also given a 1 2-month prison sentence suspended for 2 years providing he does not re-of-fend within that period. He was ordered to pay reparation of $569 (reduced because a lot of the stolen property had been recovered) in full within 28 days or face a 2-month term of imprisonment. As Sattler was taking up employment in the Wanganui district he was sentenced to 7 month' s periodic detention instead of the community service which is the only alternati ve available in the W aimarino. Court heard that prior to these offences Sattler had bought a chainsaw under a hire-purchase agreement so that he could work in a forestry gang in the Karioi Forest but after the gang was laid off he could no longer keep up his HP payments. □ Chris Lee Billington, 17, unemployed of Raetihi, (4 charges) was given a 6month prison sentence suspended for 2 years providing he does not re-offend within that period. He was ordered to make reparation of which $125 has already

been paid. As Billington was due to undertake a 20week diesel mechanic course at the Rotorua Polytechnic soon, he was sentenced to 5 month's periodic detention at Rotorua instead of community service which is the only alternative available in the Waimarino. Court heard how Billington had not been a major offender and had lacked parental support and guidance since returning from Australia 5 years ago to live in Raetihi. Counsel for all four offenders was Paul Brown who made the point that his four clients were the only ones of a group of 12-16 local youths who had been involved in this series of offences.