Youths wreak senseless vandalism on $34,000 car

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 263, 15 November 1988, Page 6

Youths wreak senseless vandalism on $34,000 car

The following cases were heard by Judge D. Lowe in the Ohakune District Court last Thursday. Police Sergeant Russell England of Ohakune appeared for the prosecution and Traffic Officer Mike Lenihan of Waiouru appeared for the Ministry of Transport.

Car theft Stephen H o a n i Brown, 17, casual worker of Rangataua, pleaded guilty to one charge of stealing a Holden Commodore valued at $34,000 from Ian Strachan and to one charge of converting a forklift tractor valued at $10,000. Court heard how defendant, with three associates (two of whom have appeared in the Children and Young Persons Court) had stolen the Commodore from a property in Karioi, had driven it through Ohakune and Raetihi at high speed and then back to a forest road where they had deliberately crashed it. Defendant then went, in company with his associates on the following day, t o convert a forklift tractor and return to the site of the crashed Commodore where they repeatedly charged at it and attacked it with tyre levers and jacks smashing all windows in a deliberate act o f senseless vandalism

until it became a total wreck. It was then pushed into the bush in an attempt to conceal it. Defendant was convicted and remanded on bail to app.ear in the Ohakune District Court on December 15 for a probation officers report and sentence and reparation report and ordered to observe a curfew at his home from 7.00pm t o 7.00am every day throughout the remand period. Conversion, burglary Mark A n t h o n y Evans, 17, student of Rangataua, pleaded guilty to a total of four charges when he appeared in Court for the first time. The charges included: starting a Holden Commodore valued at $34,000 from Ian Strachan; converting a forklift tractor valued at $10,000; two charges of braking and entering d w e 1 1 i n g houses (ski chalets) in Miharo Street, Rangataua. The first two charges arose out of an

incident on November 6 while the second two related to burglaries committed on July 2. Court heard how defendant, with three associates (two of whom have appeared in the Children and Young Persons Court) had stolen the Commodore from a property in Karioi (see report on incident under Stephen Brown case). Court heard that during the two burglaries on July 2, alcohol, sun-glasses and ski clothing was stolen. Defendant was convicted and remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on December 15 for a probation officer's report and sentence and reparation report and ordered to observe a curfew at his parents home from 7.00pm to 7.00am every day throughout the remand period. Counsel: P. Brown. Cannabis possession David James Gordon, 23, timber worker of Tokoroa, pleaded guilty to a charge of being found in possession of cannabis plant material while parked in his car outside the Ohakune Club on October 22.

He was convicted and fined $100 and ordered to pay Court costs of $65. Case adjourned Christopher Miles Barnett, 19, Technician of Wellington was to have appeared originally on one charge of driving a motor vehicle without properly affixed registration plates and one charge of having never had a drivers licence. The original charges arose out of defendant's vehicle being stopped in Miro Street, Ohakune, on July 9 but the second charge was withdrawn by leave when the case came up in Court last week. The hearing of the first charge was adjourned to December 12 for formal proof. Excess alcohol Vance T e r e m a Clarke, 27, Soldier of Waiouru, appeared on one charge of driving with excess breath alcohol and one charge of never having had a drivers licence at any time. Both charges arose out of an incident when when defendant's car was seen to cross onto the wrong side of the road when turning into

Queree Drive, Waiouru, on August 19. Court heard how defendant had attended a post-rugby party in a friend's car as a passenger. Later in the evening when the group were to return to camp, defendant volunteered to drive the vehicle because he was the least affected by alcohol. On the first charge he was convicted and fined $280, Court costs $65 and disqualified from driving for six months. On the second charge he was convicted and fined $140, Court costs $65. Counsel: D. G. Harvey. Careless use Charmaine Larisha Green, 26, solo parent of Raetihi, pleaded not guilty to a charge o f careless use of a motor vehicle on State Highway 49 at Ohakune on October 4. She was remanded to appear in the Ohakune District Court at the first sitting of the Court in April next year for a defended hearing. Cannabis Cultivation Donovan Troy Hopkinson, 18, unemployed of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to one

charge of possession of cannabis seeds and to one charge of cultivating cannabis plant. The two charges arose out of a search warrant being exercised on a shed behind the house where defendant and his mother lived. Court heard how defendant's mother had found the seedlings growing in pots where she grew non-noxious plants and, becoming aware of the problem, had applied Round-Up to the cannabis seedlings. In convicting and sentencing defendant to 60 hours community service on the cultivating charge and convicting and discharging him on the possession charge, Judge Lowe said that defendant was lucky to have such a wise and caring mother. Counsel: P. Brown Drug offence Marc C a 1 1 u m Keesing, 18, Chef of Ohakune, appeared for sentence on two charges to which he had pleaded guilty at last month's hearing. On the charge o f possession of three pipes for the commission of an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act he was convicted and sentenced to 60 hours community service.

On the charge of possession of cannabis leaf he was convicted and sentenced to 10 hours of community work as directed by the probation officer. Counsel: P. Brown. No licence Georgina Ramahera Kiri, 34, housewife of Raetihi, pleaded guilty to a charge of driving in Seddon Street, Raetihi, on August 11 while not having had a drivers licence of any class at any time. When she told the Court that she obtained a driving licence four days later the Judge said that he would take that fact into consideration when passing sentence. Defendant was convicted and fined $40 and ordered to pay $65 Court costs. Burglary Brian Michael Ludeman, 36, unemployed of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking and entering the premises of Wholesome Foods in Clyde Street, Ohakune, through a side window and stealing $300 from the till on October 6. He was convicted and remanded on bail to appear in the Ohakune District Court on December 15 for a probation officer's report and Turn page 13

OHAKUNE DISTRICT COURT