A Wagga mum who attempted to smuggle drugs into a Riverina jail with her five-year-old in tow has been lambasted by a magistrate for "stupid behaviour".
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Emmalle Beavis, 23, appeared at Wagga Local Court on Wednesday and pleaded guilty to four offences, including bringing a prohibited drug into a place of detention and supplying a prohibited drug.
As a result of her early plea, the police prosecutor withdrew the two charges of possession.
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The Ashmont woman was visiting her partner at Junee Correctional Facility on June 19 when officers became suspicious of her behaviour.
This was in light of security footage from an earlier visit that showed her passing something to the inmate she was seeing.
Correctional officers approached and asked Beavis if she had contraband, at which point she pulled out two small red-coloured balloons from her bra.
She was arrested and taken to Junee Police Station, where she admitted to what she had done.
Magistrate Miranda Moody chastised Beavis, saying, "you foolish woman, why would you do a thing like that?" adding that she had put herself, her child and her career in jeopardy.
Her solicitor told the court, Beavis did it for "financial gain" as she was under threat of losing her job and was struggling with finances.
The lawyer also said the risk of reoffending was "low".
Magistrate Moody acknowledged that Beavis had almost "no adult" record and was in a difficult financial position.
But she said there was "no excuse for this behaviour", and it would have been horrific for the son "subjected to watching his mother searched and arrested".
"Just a stupid thing she did to impress a partner or make money," Magistrate Moody said.
Beavis was convicted of bringing a prohibited drug into a place of detention and supplying a prohibited drug.
She was placed on a 12-month community corrections order and fined $1000.
After sentencing, Magistrate Moody addressed Beavis directly and said, "that was a really stupid thing to do", warning her to stay out of further trouble.