Sentenced to time served

A Rotorua man has been sentenced to imprisonment after assaulting police and his partner.

Carlo Galvin, 35, appeared in the Whakatāne District Court on Wednesday for sentencing on charges of assault on a person in a family relationship, and four counts of assaulting police.

Defence lawyer Rebecca Plunket told the court Galvin had been in custody on the charges since January.

Judge Louis Bidois said the violence involved in the family violence was low-level.

“It was your history and the nature of offending that kept you in custody,” he said.

Galvin was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment, which equated to time served given the months he had spent in custody. The judge also imposed six months' post-release conditions.

A protection order was imposed for two months to protect the victim.

“Keep your hands to yourself, Mr Galvin,” Judge Bidois said.

Prison sentence

A Maretotara man has been sentenced on a series of intimidation and drug-related charges.

Frank Akuhata, 39, pleaded guilty to breaching community work, committing a threatening act against a dwelling, resisting police, procuring cannabis, cultivating cannabis and possessing a pipe for smoking cannabis.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of possession of a pipe for methamphetamine.

Akuhata had also applied to cancel a previous community work sentence.

Judge Bidois cancelled Akuhata’s community work sentence and sentenced him to imprisonment for six months with six months of release conditions.

On the possession of a meth pipe, he was remanded until July 30 for case review.

Sentence indication accepted

A Kawerau man has accepted a sentencing indication and entered guilty pleas to a range of assault charges.

Waiheke Karepa, 25, entered guilty pleas to two charges of assault on a family member and charges of strangulation and escaping lawful custody.

He had initially been charged with assault with intent to injure, which was amended to assault on a person in a family relationship. A charge of assault with a blunt instrument was withdrawn by the prosecution when Karepa accepted the sentencing indication.

Judge Bidois remanded Karepa until July 2 for sentencing.

Interlock sentence cancelled

A man has had his application to cancel his interlock sentence accepted by the court.

Johnathon Tai had been subject to an interlock sentence after being convicted of drink driving.

Judge Bidois cancelled the interlock sentence and replaced it with a backdated sentence of six months’ disqualification and a zero-alcohol licence.

Raft of charges

A Whakatāne man has been sentenced to 220 hours of community work on a raft of charges.

Arthur Toman, 66, pleaded guilty to shoplifting, receiving property valued over $1000, possession of a methamphetamine pipe, possession of a cannabis pipe, resisting police, possession of an offensive weapon and procuring a cannabis plant.

He had shoplifted $68.91 of products from Pak’n Save, received a vehicle valued at $3500 to $4500 that had been obtained by illegal means, and was in possession of a bat.

Toman was originally also charged with assault and possession of an offensive weapon (a knife) but Judge Bidois asked police to reconsider these charges after reading the summary of facts.

Toman pushed a woman away four times after she repeatedly opened his car door. He then swung his fist at her, missed, and drove away from the scene.

Prosecutor Jazmyn Pearson said police were happy to amend both charges to summary offences charges, to which Toman also entered guilty pleas.

He was sentenced to community work, ordered to pay reparation to the supermarket for the goods stolen and $100 emotional harm reparation to the victim of the summary offences assault.

“Don’t touch females,” Judge Bidois told Toman.

An order was made for forfeiture of the bat.

Double drink driving

A Whakatāne man has been sentenced following two instances of drink driving.

Wiremu Rapana was found driving with excess breath alcohol, a level of 519 micrograms per litre of breath. The legal limit for driving is 250mcg.

Then, while subject to a zero-alcohol licence, he was caught driving with a limit very close to 400mcg, the criminal limit for driving.

Rapana pleaded guilty to driving with excess breath alcohol, driving with alcohol on his breath while on a zero-alcohol licence, and wearing gang insignia.

Judge Bidois sentenced Rapana to three months’ home detention on the drink driving charges and convicted and discharged him for wearing gang insignia.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day.

“Do not drive, Mr Rapana. Do not drink and drive, or you’ll go to jail,” Judge Bidois said.

Final adjournment

An Ōpōtiki woman has received a final adjournment before sentencing to secure a home detention address.

Cassandra Anderson, 35, has pleaded guilty to charges of threatening to kill, failing to answer district court bail, escaping from police custody, assaulting a person with a blunt instrument, and possession of an offensive weapon.

She had missed her last court date, which her lawyer, Rebecca Plunket, said was because of accommodation issues.

“She had lost her accommodation and was seeking new accommodation at the time,” Ms Plunket said.

Judge Bidois said he would issue a final adjournment.

“Because you are a first offender, I will remand you to find a new home detention address. You have one final chance,” he said.

She was remanded until July 3 for sentencing.

Guilty pleas entered

Kauri Talbot pleaded guilty to two counts of contravening a protection order.

She was remanded until July 23 for sentencing.

Warrants issued

Aidan Russel was due to appear for contravening a protection order, and Lexina Rapihana for breaching community work.

Neither defendant showed, and warrants were issued for their arrest.

Remanded for plea

A Whakatāne man has been remanded for plea on a range of charges.

Tehore Smith, 32, has been charged with obstructing police, possession of a pipe for meth, procuring cannabis and unlawfully possessing ammunition.

He was remanded at large until June 27 for plea.

Driving with excess breath alcohol

A man has been sentenced to community work and supervision for driving with excess breath alcohol.

James Pryor pleaded guilty to the charge.

Judge Bidois sentenced Pryor to 160 hours’ community work, cumulative on a previous sentence, 12 months’ supervision and disqualified him from driving for 12 months and one day.

“Do not drive,” Judge Bidois told Pryor.

“If you want to go to jail, drink and drive.”

Sentencing adjourned

The sentencing of Mana Taitapanui has been put off, awaiting the outcome of his co-offender's sentencing in July.

Taitapanui has pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to injure, discharging a firearm to intimidate a person, and injuring with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He appeared for sentencing, but his lawyer, Rebecca Plunket, asked for a remand, which Judge Bidois granted.

Taitapanui’s co-offender was the primary offender in this incident, and his sentencing date is July 9.

Taitapanui was remanded on bail until July 23 for sentencing.

Bail refused

Keelin Ruru has applied for bail on two charges.

He was charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of police property.

Judge Bidois denied bail and Ruru was remanded until June 4 for plea.

Co-accused Aaron Raki, also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, was remanded until the same date.

Possession of a knife

A woman has been sentenced to community work on three charges.

Daniel Te Pou-Biddle pleaded guilty to possession of a knife in a public place, breaching supervision and failing to answer district court bail.

She was sentenced to 100 hours’ community work.