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Client charged with prohibited drug receives Conditional Release Order without conviction
Drug-dog detects prohibited drug on client
CQA was charged with possessing a prohibited drug under Section 10 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act. These charges followed a drug-dog operation in a pub in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
Subsequently, this operation identified a small quantity of cocaine for personal use in CQA’s possession.
The maximum penalty for the offence was one of two options. These would be either a fine of 20 penalty units, or maximum imprisonment of 2 years, or both.
Drug possession sentencing submissions to Waverley Local Court
Ultimately, CQA pleaded guilty to the charge.
In the hearing, we made sentencing submissions to the Waverley Local Court. In those, our lawyers argued that CQA get a sentence of a Conditional Release Order without conviction, pursuant to Sections 9 and 10 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act.
His Honour heard submissions outlining multiple factors in support of the Release Order.
These included:
- strong character references for CQA
- the small quantity of drug’s found in CQA’s possession
- CQA’s lack of significant previous criminal history
- the low risk of recidivism
- and CQA’s participation in drug rehabilitation programs since the incident
The Court accepted these arguments.
Consequently, CQA was found guilty of the offence, and the Magistrate granted a Conditional Release Order without conviction.
*We have changed names to maintain client confidentiality
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