A drug dealer who admitted she sold large amounts of ice in Yarrawonga has insisted photos of her with a BB gun were about bravado, not real violence.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Stacey McDonald, 34, was this week sentenced to 18 months in jail over what magistrate Fran Medina described as her unsophisticated drug operation in 2018.
She has already served about nine months on remand and will be eligible for parole after 12 months.
The prosecution had argued McDonald deserved a jail sentence of more than two years.
Police detectives working in Operation Reacher raided her Yarrawonga home on July 17, 2018.
They found 72 grams of methamphetamine, plus small amounts of cocaine, LSD, MDMA and GHB.
Wangaratta Magistrates Court this week heard that when the drugs were tested for purity, there was actually between 46 and 57g of ice.
MORE NEWS FROM COURT:
McDonald, the mother of a 10-year-old daughter, pleaded guilty to trafficking the methamphetamine and possessing the others.
Police also seized her mobile phone that included photos of drugs and weapons, plus messages where she discussed trafficking with more than 20 clients.
One message had a photograph of her holding the BB gun with the message "c---s better pay their tick bill".
"I regard the accused's behaviour in that manner as cavalier and acting with bravado," Ms Medina said.
"It was not offending of any sophistication, although somewhat prolific. There does not appear to be any degree of organisation."
McDonald's barrister Jonathan Miller said his client had immersed herself in the drug culture, selling ice to support her own habit.
He said she moved to Yarrawonga to get away from her drug contacts in Melbourne, but then "it really spiralled out of control" after 2015 as she used ice to avoid dealing with her issues.
She did not engage with previous court orders to get drug rehabilitation, but has started to get drug treatment during her time in custody.
Mr Miller said McDonald would not return to Yarrawonga when she finishes her jail sentence.
Ms Medina also placed McDonald on a community correction order, to start when she is released from jail, which she hoped would help the rehabilitation.
"You have failed to understand the consequences of the decision you were making as a result of your methamphetamine use," she said.
