STAND-UP comedian Jimbo Bazoobi rocketed to fame three years ago when he and his sidekick, a goat called Gary, beat a quirky vandalism allegation, but it was no laughing matter on Tuesday when the funnyman fronted Wagga Local Court to face three serious criminal charges.
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Jimbo, whose real name is James Dezarnaulds, is charged with wilful and obscene exposure, behaving in an offensive manner and using a carriage service to menace or harass.
The first two charges stem from Jimbo peeing into a cup at a Bourke pub last year and drinking the urine to try to prove to a doctor the benefits of urine therapy.
The third charge is the result of a conversation Jimbo had with a female police officer at Bourke, which he posted as a video.
Jimbo was bailed to Wagga Local Court on Tuesday after turning himself into police last Friday when he became aware a warrant was out for his arrest.
Gary, a South African Saanen milk goat, sat placidly outside the Wagga courthouse as Jimbo had his case adjourned to Bourke Local Court on May 5 to set a hearing date.
He provided light-hearted relief for people facing court as well as a number of Jimbo’s fans who came down to meet him and the goat.
“I came down to look after Gary for Jimbo,” said Wagga fan Cec Combs.
“I went to his show on Saturday night and ran into him on Sunday and he asked me to look after Gary and make sure he did not get into any strife or eat any vegetation.”
In 2013, Jimbo was fined $440 when Gary ate flowers outside Sydney’s Museum of Contemporary Art.
But Jimbo took the fine to court and won the case, with the magistrate saying there was no evidence Jimbo took Gary there with the intention of vandalising vegetation.
Jimbo told The Daily Advertiser he had been branded a sex offender, which he feels is an insult to sex assault victims.
“It dilutes what it means to be on the sex offender’s list,” he said.
Jimbo also said the harassment charge was an attack on comedy.
“Rules and regulations are stifling our culture to the point where the rule of law seems to have little to do with common sense, and if common sense has little to do with the rule of law our society is in trouble,” he said.
“If, as a professional comedian, I am charged with making a joke, what are the consequences for amateur comedians?”
