May 13, 2014
An extensive juvenile criminal history caught up with a 17-year-old Murgon man when he appeared in Murgon Magistrates Court today.
In previous years, Edward Ernest Paul Combo would have been treated as a “cleanskin” when undergoing sentencing as he had no prior adult criminal history.
However, under changes introduced this year by the State Government, Magistrate Mark Bucknall could now also take into account Combo’s juvenile history.
Combo pleaded guilty to four charges of wilful damage, and one count of trespass and obstructing police.
He admitted smashing glass panes at Huston Ford at 56 Lamb Street, Murgon; the Commonwealth Bank at 62 Lamb Street, and the Australia Post Office at 60 Lamb Street on March 27.
The total damage bill from this rampage was $4304.15.
Combo also threw rocks at vehicles parked in the rear of Huston’s yard causing scratches and dents which cost $1517.28 to repair.
Police prosecutor Sgt Pepe Gangemi said Combo had a very extensive Children’s Court history which also included a lot of wilful damage charges.
Defence solicitor Babu Singh said whenever Combo was stressed “out comes the rocks and there go the cars”.
The latest incident occurred shortly after the death of a family member.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall told Combo he seemed to act irrationally at times and this behaviour could not be tolerated.
“These are serious charges and ones that are of great cost to the business community and the community in general,” he said.
“Business owners and households deserve some protection.”
But in Combo’s favour, he was attending the Ficks Crossing Rodeo School and getting counselling “which indicates you are not a lost cause”.
Mr Bucknall sentenced Combo to six months imprisonment on the wilful damage charges, to be served as an Intensive Correction Order in the community.
He ordered that Combo pay restitution to the affected businesses.
* * *
A Murgon man arrested and returned to prison for breaching his parole by drinking alcohol faced court today because he had a slingshot in his possession at the time police arrived.
Duane Fisher pleaded guilty to possessing a weapon while under the influence of liquor.
He had the court proceedings translated for him by a deaf interpreter.
Solicitor Mark Oliver, for Fisher, said his client was not aware that possessing a slingshot in a public place was illegal.
He said he had the slingshot to frighten away some dogs that had woken his partner.
Magistrate Mark Bucknall said as Fisher’s parole had been revoked he could see no reason for further punishment.
He convicted Fisher and ordered that the slingshot be forfeited.
