Full reparation called after electricity theft

Waimarino Bulletin, Issue 4, 12 August 1988, Page 16

Full reparation called after electricity theft

The following cases were heard by Judge E. W. Unwin in the Ohakune District Court last Friday. Police sergeant Garry Paterson of Wanganui appeared for the prosecution. Traffic officers Ian Harrison of Ohakune and Dave Dowsett of Turangi appeared for the Ministry of Transport. Carrying Charges Stephen Paul Biggs, 39, owner-operator driver of Ohakune, appeared on two charges of failing to display a current certificate of fitness, one charge of exceeding gross weight on a motor vehicle and one charge of omitting relevant information in a log hook w h e n stopped by a traffic officer on State Highway 49 on January 21. A further charge of pre-

senting a licence that did not relate to the vehicle in question was withdrawn by consent. Defence counsel explained that most of defendant's driving was associated with carrying timber for the Karioi Mill and involved off-road driving. There was nothing sinister or deliberate about defendant's actions in not maintaining h i s records. However, Judge Unwin said that defendant's omissions indicated a certain slackness in his operations and the sentence would serve to remind defendant of his obligations. Defendant was convicted and fined $150, court costs $65 on the charge of exceeding gross weight and another $150, court costs $65 on the charge of

omitting relevant information in a log book while on each of the two charges of failing to display a current certificate of fitness he was fined $65. Electricity theft sentence Charmaine Larisha Green, 26, solo parent of Raetihi, appeared for sentence on two charges of fraudulently using electricity to the total estimated value of, over $2000 to which she had been found guilty following a defended hearing in June. The charges established that she fraudulently used $2271.06 worth of electricity belonging to the Wan-ganui-Rangitikei Elec-

tric Power Board between September 1 6 , 1985 and February 19, 1988 at her residence in Duncan Street, Raetihi. In passing sentence Judge Unwin said that the most important matter to be considered was the repayment of the total amount to the W anganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board despite pleas by defence counsel for defendant not to meet the full cost of reparation because of her personal financial circumstances. She was sentenced to undertake 12 months supervision and ordered to pay the sum o f $2271.06 at the rate of $40 per fortnight or

face a 120-day term of imprisonment in default. At the conclusion of these payments to the power board she was ordered to pay $5 00 towards the cost of prosecution b y continuing to make payments at the rate of $40 per fortnight. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Cultivation charges Jason Myles Hern, 19, unemployed of Ohakune, pleaded guilty on a charge of cultivating a Class C drug (cannabis plants) at his address on July 25. Court heard how defendant was found growing 70 seedlings in a somewhat "naive

and unsophisticated .operation" for what he claimed was for his own use. He was reminded that it was just as well his explanation was accepted because had he been found to be dealing in cannabis for profit he could have made himself liable to a term of imprisonment. He was convicted and fined $500 and ordered to make immediate payment or face a 90day prison term. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Careless use James Manuel Honana, 23, g arden hand of Ohakune, pleaded guilty to one charge of careless use of a motor vehicle in Mangawhero Terrace, Ohakune, on July 7 and to one charge of driving with excess blood alcohol. Court heard how defendant had been travelling at speed in Mangawhero Terrace and, failing to take a bend, had rolled his car and caused some minor injuries to the occupants. Defendant had been taken to the doctor's surgery in Raetihi to have his injuries attended and it was there that a blood specimen had been taken. This had proved positive. As a first offender he was convicted and remanded on statutory bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on September 15 for a Probation Officer's report and sentence.

Faise aiarm Kenneth Thomas McCann, 20, apprentice plumber of Raetihi, who was to have defended a charge of knowingly giving a false fire alarm to the Raetihi Fire Brigade on February 13, changed his plea to guilty when he appeared last Friday. Court heard how defendant had succumbed to peer-group pressure when he dialled 111 to report a car on fire at Horopito knowing that such a call was false. This had resulted in the Raetihi Volunteer Fire Brigade making a fruitless 18km round trip. In passing sentence Judge Unwin said he realised this was defendant's first appearance in a Court of law and that there had been a degree of coercion but the penalty imposed must deter others. He was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called within 12 months and ordered to pay $250 towards the cost of prosecution. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Non appearance Wati Makiri, 48, unemployed bushman of Papakura, was to have faced four charges had he appeared last Friday but three of the charges (including breach of a non-molestation order, threatening to injure and besetting a house with intent) were withdrawn by consent. However one charge Turn page 18

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT

Man pleads not guilty to wood pigeon hunting

Frdm page 16 of assault remained and, because of his non-ap-pearance, a warrant for arrest was issued. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Pigeon hunting charge Whetu Marama Mark Mareikura, 25, unemployed of Ohakune, made a further appearance to face a number of charges relating to the hunting of native pigeons on May 6. One of the charges, that of destruction of wild life, on which he had appeared last month was withdrawn by consent but the others including: hunting native .pigeons; possession of four native pigeons and; possession of a .22 calibre rifle for other than some lawful, proper and sufficient purpose, still stood. Defendant pleaded not guilty to these charges and was remanded for a further two months until October 12 to appear in the Ohakune District Court for a defended hearing. Counsel: Jim Rota of Wanganui. Vegetable theft Graham David Pearce, 29, contractor of Raetihi, was to have faced a charge of stealing 10kg of vegetables

valued at $6.1 from Keith Cranston. However, Court heard the explanation that defendant had since seen and spoken with the complainant and understood that the complainant now wanted to withdraw the charge. As a result defendant had not appeared in Court last Friday but the Court asked police to speak to complainant about this charge before next Court day. The matter was adjourned and set down for hearing in the Ohakune District Court on September 15. Hubmeter lost Barry James Stott, 47, farmer of Pio Pio, pleaded guilty by letter to a charge of operating a motor vehicle on State Highway 49a (Tahonga Road) without a distance recorder being fitted on March 30. In a letter to the Court, defendant explained that the distance recorder had fallen off the hub-fit-ting and had since been recovered after advertisements had been placed in local newspapers along the route taken by defendant.

He was convicted and ordered to pay Court costs of $75. Careless use Te Aroha Anna Waitai, 47, finance supervisor of Lower Hutt, pleaded guilty to a charge of careless use

of a motor vehicle while travelling south on State Highway 4 (Parapara Road) on February 21. Court heard how defendant who was returning home and driving for the first

time on this road (having driven up on State Highway 1 via Waiouru) had failed to take a bend and had collided with another motor vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Defendant told the Court that she had already paid out $1100 to the owner of the other

vehicle while the cost of repairs for her own vehicle had amounted to $450. In convicting and discharging defendant with an order to pay $16 witness expenses, Judge Unwin advised her to return home to Lower Hutt via Waiouru and State Highway 1 at

the conclusion of her case. Bail breach Shane Victor Williams, 25, unemployed of Taihape, pleaded guilty to two charges of breaches of bail having earlier pleaded guilty and been remanded on one charge of excess blood level alcohol and one charge of assault on a female at a hearing in the Wanganui District Court. Court heard that defendant intended returning to live with his parents in Christchurch last weekend following the Court case. He was therefore remanded on bail to appear in the Christchurch District Court on September 5 on the condition that he resides with his parents until then and that he reports to the Christchurch police every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Counsel: Paul Brown. Name suppression An Access worker from Raetihi, who was granted interim suppression of name, appeared on a charge of assault with intent to injure in what was described as a domestic incident. He also faced a theft charge. Court heard how defendant and his de-facto wife had been drinking in the hotel on Wednesday, August 3 before returning home separately. When defendant returned home 10 minutes later his de-facto wife confronted him with a letter said to have been received from a former girl friend and an argument started in the kitchen. It was alleged that complainant was struck on the side of the face before falling to the floor where she was kicked by defendant. Defendant denied using a knife and explained to the Court how complainant could have sustained her injuries by falling against a saucepan or tripping onto some rocks outside the back door when she ran out to seek refuge with a neighbour. In remanding defendant in custody to appear in the Wanganui District Court on August 22 on the assault charge, Judge Unwin said that while defendant obviously lacked verbal skills, the story of falling over a saucepan or out of the back door lacked credibility. On the theft charge defendant was remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on September 15 but whether bail would continue would depend on the outcome of the assault charge hearing on August 22.