Jason Skepper, 50, of Shepparton pleaded guilty in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to trafficking cannabis and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime after a magistrate indicated he would give him a community corrections order if he was to enter a plea to the charges.
Prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Brent O’Grady told the court police found 2378g of cannabis in eight zip-lock bags when they searched Skepper’s home on September 14 last year.
They also found three containers with loose cannabis, as well as some ground cannabis and five foil wrappings of cannabis in the house.
A total of $2800 in cash was also seized by police.
Sen Constable O’Grady also told the court of two occasions where police spoke to two people who were found with cannabis and said they had bought it from the house in the month before the search of the property.
The first was a woman whose car was seen at Skepper’s house and who told police she bought 8.63g of cannabis for $100 there, Sen Constable O’Grady said.
The court was also told by the prosecutor that a man who was also seen at the house said he paid $20 for a “bud” of cannabis.
Sen Constable O’Grady said police believed the cash found came from the sale of cannabis.
Skepper told police the cannabis found was “for personal use”, Sen Constable O’Grady said.
Skepper’s solicitor Ian Michaelson said his client was using cannabis to manage his anxiety, and was on a waiting list to be prescribed medicinal cannabis.
When questioned by the magistrate about the two people who said they bought cannabis from Skepper, the prosecutor said they would be called to give evidence if the matter went to contest, but admitted police did not have statements from them.
Magistrate Simon Zebrowski scolded police for not having statements from the two witnesses.
“What if they say they don’t remember?” he said.
Mr Zebrowski said he would place Skepper on a community corrections order “on the basis that he uses cannabis and that he might have sold some”.
The 12-month community corrections order also carries with it 50 hours of community work, but Mr Zebrowski ordered that all 50 hours could be used in assessment and treatment for drug abuse, mental health treatment and by taking part in offending behaviour programs.
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