Last week Jones + Associates appeared in the Supreme Court with our client who was sentenced for Trafficking cocaine for a period of one (1) year.
Based in Noosa, our client was sourcing drugs locally, interstate and on occasion internationally, primarily throughout the Covid lockdown period in 2020. He was sentenced on the basis that his ‘sales’ were predominantly “streel level”, being between 1-3 grams, but on occasion there were larger scale transactions.
Aggravating the offending was the allegation that there was a significant, albeit failed, transaction involving multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars, the fallout leading to serious threats being made by way of potential retribution.
The matter took a number of years to resolve after our client was initially arrested in 2021. The almost three (3) years was utilised positively by our client, who took the opportunity after being granted Supreme Court bail to undertake rehabilitative efforts, whilst also positively contributing to the community by working and supporting his family.
In that time, we were successful in ensuring other charged offences were discontinued, including Importation of dangerous drugs x 2 and contempt of court.
At sentence, we were able to tender to the court 11 clean urine tests on behalf of our client, which is the only way to prove someone’s rehabilitative efforts are genuine and successful.
The Presiding Justice sentenced our client to 4 years imprisonment, to be released on a suspended sentence after 12 months.
At the time of originally engaging Jones + associates, our client understood the real prospect of a significant jail term, potentially as much as 10 years. His successful result came from considerable hard work both by us as the lawyers and our client and led to his much reduced sentence.
Getting expert advice and representation is not only important when facing a trial but can be equally as important in achieving a successful outcome at sentence. The process of preparing for a sentence can involve negotiating charges, facts of each charge as well as providing advice as to what clients can do to best achieve a positive result. Having lawyers prepared to vigorously and competently defend their clients is extremely important, however as is having lawyers who are similarly as effective at negotiations when they become required.
At Jones + Associates we understand each matter and client is different and that providing the best representation is also providing the best advice and being able to negotiation effectively when required.
Should you or anyone close to you wish to discuss legal matters or require representation, call the experts at Jones + Associates on (07) 3229 3166.