An Ōpōtiki man has been remanded in custody for a case review on a charge of breaching his supervision sentence.

Raiden Welsh, 27, appeared in Ōpōtiki District Court last Thursday to plead to this charge and another of breaching his community work sentence, or which he had 147 hours outstanding.

He pleaded guilty to breaching community work and was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment.

He pleaded not guilty to breaching supervision and was remanded to an already scheduled a case review date on July 24.

Judge Louis Bidois denied Welsh’s electronically monitored application and remanded him in custody for case review on the supervision breach along with charges of contravening a protection order and assault a person in a family relationship, which he has also pleaded not guilty to.

Booted in the face

Taani Kauvalu has been fined and ordered to pay emotional harm reparation to the partner he assaulted.

Judge Bidois questioned Kauvalu about the reasoning behind his behaviour.

“You tell her you’re going to boot her in the face, and you did. Why? Because you could?”

Lawyer Whare Hika said Kauvalu pleaded guilty to an assault on a person in a family relationship.

“He and his partner were having an argument about kai. He wanted his children to be well fed,” Mr Hika said.

Judge Bidois said, “That doesn’t justify kicking someone.”

Kauvalu only had one charge of threatening in 2017.

He was fined $500 plus court costs and ordered to pay $250 emotional harm reparation.

Firearms charges

Johnny Onekawa appeared on two charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm.

One charge was withdrawn by police, and Onekawa pleaded guilty to the other.

On an existing charge of wounding with intent to injure, which he is pleading not guilty to, Onekawa vacated his election of a judge-alone trial and instead asked for a jury trial.

His judge-alone trial date of October 2 was cancelled and replaced by a July 9 date for all matters.

Cannabis found in aerial search

David Kahaki pleaded guilty to one charge of cultivating cannabis.

His plants were found by police in an aerial search.

Judge Bidois said Kahaki pleaded guilty straight away and only had one previous conviction from 2008 on his record.

Police prosecutor Jasmyn Pearson said Kahaki was growing a “significant amount” of cannabis.

Judge Bidois sentenced Kahaki to 240 hours of community work.

Trial date set

A Waiotahe woman has had a trial date set after appearing in court on a new charge of cultivating cannabis.

Susan Green, 64, pleaded not guilty to the charge, as well as charges of unlawfully possessing a non-prohibited firearm, wilful damage, escaping police custody and possession of an offensive weapon.

She represented herself and said police searched her house without a warrant and with “no justifiable cause”.

Three plants were found by police, Green said these were for medicinal purposes.

A judge-alone trial was set for October 2.

Fined for meth convictions

A woman has been fined for two methamphetamine offences.

Rongo Robson-Waikato pleaded guilty to possession of meth and possessing utensils used for meth.

Judge Bidois fined her $600 plus court costs.

Not guilty plea entered

A man is ready to defend a driving with excess breath alcohol charge.

Hurae Te Rupe was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol on Waitangi Day.

He self-represented and Judge Bidois adjourned the matter to a case review on September 18.

“Police say you were the driver. If you want a witness he needs his own legal advice,” Judge Bidois told Te Rupe.  

The judge said if it was found both Te Rupe and the potential witness swapped seats, the witness could be charged with perverting the course of justice.

Guilty to assaulting child charges

An Ōpōtiki man has pleaded guilty to five charges of assaulting a child.

Initially, Shelford Peri, 37, was charged with seven counts of child assault and two counts of contravening a protection order.

The contravening a protection order charges and two of the child assault charges were withdrawn by police.

Peri pleaded guilty to the remaining charges.

The five victims were aged from three to 10 years old.

Judge Bidois ordered restorative justice and an amended summary of facts due to the changing charges.

“Make sure you get a favourable probation report and a suitable address,” he said to Peri.

He remanded Peri until August 7 for sentencing.

Bail granted

A man has been granted bail after a first appearance on a range of assault charges.

Jamie Mills was charged with injuring with intent to injure, impeding a person’s breathing and blood circulation, assault with intent to injure and wilful damage.

Judge Bidois told Mills, “You’ve got yourself into some serious trouble.”

Mills was remanded on bail until July 17 in Whakatāne District Court for plea.

Jury trial elected

An Ōpōtiki woman has elected a jury trial regarding a kidnapping charge.

Tynea Shaw-Huriwaka, 21, pleaded not guilty to impeding a person’s breathing and blood circulation, assault with intent to injure and other kidnapping.

She elected trial by jury and was remanded until September 26 in Tauranga District Court for callover.

Unlawfully took motor vehicle

Melissa Fa’Uhiva, 31, has been sentenced on a series of charges.

She was convicted of wilful damage, unlawfully taking a motor vehicle, speaking threateningly and failing to answer district court bail.

Judge Bidois sentenced her to 160 hours’ community work and 12 months’ supervision.

Fined for EBA

Daniel Kauvalu has been fined after driving with excess breath alcohol.

Judge Bidois said Kauvalu’s last charge was in 2013.

“You’ve kept out of trouble for a long time,” he said.

Kauvalu was found driving with a breath alcohol reading of 600 micrograms of alcohol per litre of breath. The legal limit for driving is 250mcg.

He was disqualified from driving for 12 months and one day and fined $600 plus court costs.

“Do not drive,” Judge Bidois told Kauvalu.

EBA while on interlock licence

A man has been sentenced after driving with excess blood alcohol while holding an interlock licence.

Bryan Jones, 55, pleaded guilty to driving with excess blood alcohol and being an alcohol interlock licensee driving while his blood contained alcohol.

Defence lawyer Whare Hika said Jones was “deeply remorseful”.

“He regrets his actions and is grateful no one was injured during this incident,” Mr Hika said.

Blood tests revealed Jones had a level of 305 milligrams of alcohol per 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit for driving is 50mgs.

Judge Bidois said Jones had seven previous convictions – five for drink-driving.

“A blood alcohol level of 305 is extremely high, and unsurprisingly you crashed,” Judge Bidois said.

“And after an interlock breach, you shouldn’t  have been driving in the first place.”

Judge Bidois said he acknowledged that Jones had experienced significant events in his personal life causing the defendant to relapse into drinking.

He was sentenced to home detention for seven months.

“Don’t drink and drive again,” Judge Bidois told Jones.