Ryan James Hodgson, 24, of Shepparton, pleaded guilty in the Magistrates’ Court to trafficking methamphetamines, possessing two or more firearms while a prohibited person, possessing ammonia, attempting to traffic ecstasy, attempting to traffic cannabis, using a carriage service to harass and driving while suspended.
The court heard Hodgson, a member of the Outlaws Motorcycle Gang, was part of a drug trafficking syndicate made up of himself and two others who were not bikies.
The court was told that Hodgson trafficked more than 120g of methamphetamines as part of the syndicate between September 16 and December 10, 2019.
The court heard another member of the syndicate bought the methamphetamines in Melbourne and brought them back to Shepparton where he supplied them to Hodgson.
The prosecution said Hodgson and a third member of the syndicate then sold the methamphetamines as well as using some themselves.
The exact quantity of methamphetamines is unknown, but police said it was less than a commercial quantity.
The prosecution said during the same time Hodgson attempted to traffic 20 ecstasy tablets and 21g of cannabis.
In the case of the ecstasy he was unable to obtain the tablets, and with the cannabis, he ultimately decided not to make the sale, according to the prosecution.
The court was also told that on December 10, 2019, Hodgson possessed ammonia (anhydrous), which is a “prescribed precursor”.
The court also heard that in September 2019 Hodgson had possession of two or more firearms that were stored in the boot of his father-in-law’s car.
Police said that while he did not have physical possession of the firearm, he could access them in the company of his father-in-law.
The court also heard how Hodgson had harassed a woman on the phone, including sending her a text in November 2019 that said “I’ll kill you ****”.
In sentencing Hodgson, magistrate Frances Medina noted it was “quite significant offending” but that Hodgson had “very limited history before the court” and “no similar priors”.
She did, however, say the possession of the firearm while a prohibited person was a significant offence in its own right.
Ms Medina also noted he had undergone a men’s behaviour change program since sending the harassing texts to the woman.
Hodgson was placed on an 18-month community corrections order, which will include 75 hours of community work.
Part of the order will see him receive treatment for drug use, as well as participate in programs to reduce offending.
Ms Medina ruled that up to 50 hours of treatment and programs could count towards Hodgson’s community work hours.
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