Shane Towns: Moresby man pleads guilty to drug charges after bikie-linked police raids

A Moresby man whose house was targeted by police in a series of bikie-related raids across Geraldton has pleaded guilty to drug charges, including housing a “sophisticated” hydroponics set-up where more than 1.6kg of cannabis was seized.

Shane Towns, 50, of Moresby, pleaded guilty in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday to possessing a prohibited weapon, possessing cannabis, two counts of possess drug paraphernalia in or on which there was a prohibited drug, possess cocaine, possess a prohibited drug and possess an unlicensed firearm.

He also pleaded guilty to two indictable charges of possess cannabis with intent to sell or supply and cultivate a prohibited plant with intent to sell or supply, which were sent to the District Court for a later sentencing.

The court was told police raided Towns’ property on Stuart Road in Moresby just after 10am on Wednesday, January 24.

Police searched the bedside table in the main bedroom and found a small dagger sharpened on both sides, 25g of cannabis in a clip seal bag, two metal pipes, a metal grinder and a small amount of cocaine in a clip seal bag.

Police prosecutor Sgt Ross Gray said when police asked Towns about the dagger, he said “I didn’t know it was illegal, it was a gift”.

He said police also found a leather box in a wardrobe containing .22 ammunition inside a safe, which Towns told police he forgot he had.

Police found in the backyard shed a clip seal bag containing 1g of magic mushrooms, which Towns said was for personal use.

Defence counsel Kate Fry said the ammunition was left by a friend who lived on a station as he was passing through town and Towns put it in a safe place.

The court was told Towns has a firearms licence for multiple guns but the ammunition did not fit the calibre.

Ms Fry said Towns was a self-employed concreter and was capable of paying a fine.

Magistrate Kelly Thompson accepted the drugs were for Towns’ personal use only, he had only one prior conviction for “minor drug use” and had stored his friend’s ammunition correctly.

Towns received a global fine of $2000 and is due to appear in Geraldton District Court on Wednesday, June 5, for a sentence listing date on the more serious charges.

Police previously allege a canine search at the Moresby property uncovered a “sophisticated” hydroponics set-up in a sea container attached to the shed containing 36 cannabis plants and more than 1.6kg of cannabis material.

Week-long raids across Geraldton, including at the Coffin Cheaters’ headquarters in Webberton, resulted in Towns and another three men charged, including two patched bikies.

Towns is on bail while he awaits District Court sentencing.