Dragon Dreaming drug users sentenced in court

Ten attendees of last year’s Dragon Dreaming Music Festival have been sentenced in Yass Local Court for drug offences recently.

The local Wee Jasper festival came under the national spotlight after a 23 year-old Sydney woman died of a suspected drug overdose at the venue, after being found unconscious at 5.30am on the second last day of festivities.

The festival was in its eighth year (and its second year at the Wee Jasper venue), attracting about 2500 patrons into the Yass Valley during the course of the week between October 24 to 27.

More than 70 attendees were charged with drug offences including drug possession, drug supply and drug driving, with police upping the ante by rostering on additional personnel and bringing police sniffer dogs to the event.

In its lead up, organisers warned patrons there would be increased police presence to target drink drivers and illicit drugs.

“Recently three members of our community had their lives cut short on their travel home. Through co-operation with the police, this is what we are hoping to avoid. Help the scene by being responsible on the roads,” they warned patrons on social media.

Tragically, last year’s event added another statistic to the record, this time on site.

Organisers offered a drug and alcohol screening facility for a small charge, but it seemed to do little to deter some patrons from abusing drugs during the event.

Police seized LSD, heroin, marijuana, amphetamines, ice, magic mushrooms and ecstasy during last year’s rounds.

The fatality triggered NSW Police’s call for Yass Valley Council to stop approving the event.

Council agreed to apply a DA requirement that event organisers liaise annually with police and paramedics about security and emergency management.

Criminal cases are starting to filter through the Yass Local Court now that drug forensics results have been processed. The following cases were heard before Magistrates Caroline Huntsman and Geraldine Beattie during the January and February sittings.

Robert Kees Gordon, 28, of Dickson ACT, was charged with driving with an illicit drug (MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy) in his blood, at 10.52am October 26 at Wee Jasper.

He pleaded guilty and the matter was found proved without recording a conviction and he was placed on a 12 month good behaviour bond.

Christopher James Hawley, 20, of Amaroo, has been charged with driving with an illicit drug (MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy) at 1.38pm on October 25 at Wee Jasper.

His matter was adjourned to Queanbeyan Local Court.

Jo-Anna Kozman, 22, of Tahmoor NSW,  was charged with driving with an illicit drug (MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy) at 10.41am on October 26 at Wee Jasper.

She was granted a conditional bond without proceeding to record a conviction, and must be of good behaviour for six months.

Darian Kristoffer Milburn, 28, of Torren Park South Australia, pleaded guilty of possessing a stash of prohibited drugs at 5.10pm on October 23 at Wee Jasper.

Police seized 3g of cannabis leaf. Magistrate Geraldine Beattie found this matter proved without recording a conviction and dismissed this charge without conviction.

Milburn was further charged with possessing three tablets of MDMA (ecstasy) and one tablet of LSD.

He was convicted of the second and third charges and fined a total of $500.

Calwell ACT man Stephen Mossman, 21, was placed on conditional bail after pleading guilty of driving with traces of ecstasy and cannabis in his blood.

Police stopped him at 2.54pm on October 26 at Wee Jasper.

He was ordered to be of good behaviour for 12 months without proceeding to record a conviction.

David Spralja, 34, of West Footscray in Victoria, was charged with possessing prohibited drugs at 6.30pm October 23 at Wee Jasper.

Police seized 3.3g cannabis,  0.25g methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDMA ecstasy) and 1.1g psilocybin (magic mushrooms).

His matter has been adjourned to Albury Local Court.

Daniel Whittle, 24, of Chapman ACT, was convicted of driving with an illicit drug (cannabis) present in his blood 1.45pm october 26 at 1.45pm October 26 at Wee Jasper.

He was placed on a good behaviour bond for 12 months without proceeding to record a conviction.

Jackson Kip Roebuck,19, of Freshwater NSW, was found to have ecstasy and cannabis in his blood while driving at 3.05pm on October 26 at Wee Jasper.

The matter was found proven without proceeding to conviction, and he was placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.

Fiona Jane Pickering, 39, of Falls Creek NSW, was charged with driving with an illicit drug (ecstasy) present in her blood, at 12.15pm October 26 at Wee Jasper. The case was adjourned to Milton Local Court.

Gunter Emmanuel Smahel, 53, of Tanja NSW, was charged with driving with an illicit drug present in his blood (cannabis) at 11.31am on October 26 at Wee Jasper. The case was adjourned to Bega Local Court.

Read Scoop’s previous breaking stories about this event here and here.

*More court reports coming soon.