Oamaru District Court
AN Oamaru woman’s attempt to wean her son off methamphetamine by supplying him with cannabis was ‘‘misguided’’, the Oamaru District Court heard yesterday.
Adeena Marie Paaske (42), of Oamaru, appeared before Judge Ian Mill for sentencing on charges of possession of cannabis for supply and permitting a premises to be used for the cultivation of cannabis.
On the morning of March 16, police executed a search warrant at the woman’s Clyde St address, which she shared with her son, finding 149g of cannabis head, cannabis wrapped in foil, a set of scales and two small plastic bags that were discovered in Paaske’s bedroom.
A large quantity of the cannabis head was found in a backpack with some cash.
Elsewhere on the property another 61 small plastic bags, a roll of tinfoil partly cut into small squares and three bundles of cash that totalled $1254 were found.
Another 51g of cannabis plant material was recovered from a kitchen cupboard.
A dozen cannabis seedlings were found growing in her son’s bedroom, as well as a mature cannabis plant and syringes that had been used to consume cannabis.
When questioned by police, Paaske said she bought that cannabis to share with her son, but admitted she had sold some of it to friends on a regular basis.
Paaske’s attorney Emma Middlemass submitted that the cash found not be forfeited, as there was not overwhelming evidence the money had been earned from the commercial sale of cannabis.
However, Judge Mill disagreed and said the police search turned up ‘‘all the trappings of some commercial aspect’’.
Ms Middlemass described Paaske’s effort to supply her son with cannabis as a way to wean him off methamphetamine as ‘‘misguided’’, but the judge questioned why she would ‘‘need so much’’ cannabis if that was the case.
Paaske was sentenced to six months’ home detention and ordered to forfeit $1165.
Other convictions
Lutolofi Latavao (45), meat grader, of Windsor, drinkdriving, 516mcg, Chelmer St, August 19, six months’ community detention, nine months’ supervision, disqualified 12 months and one day.
Jamie Ross Cunningham (31), of Oamaru, theft of fire wood, at Pukeuri, June 28; unlicensed driver failing to comply with prohibition, at Oamaru, April 10, ordered to appear if called on within six months.
John Fabian Hohepa (25), dairy worker, of Ikawai, drinkdriving, 685mcg, Centennial Park Ave, July 7, four months’ community detention, 18 hours’ community work, disqualified 28 days, authorised to apply for an alcoholinterlock licence.
Tarnesha Maree Ellery (18), of Oamaru, driving while suspended, State Highway 1, September 25, fined $300, court costs $130, disqualified six months.