Judge wonders if teen's jail wish 'stupidity or bravado'

A judge said he did not know if it was "stupidity or bravado" when a 17-year-old Invercargill man asked to go to jail yesterday.

Jonathan Michael Fincher, unemployed, appeared before Judge Kevin Phillips for sentence on charges of possessing an offensive weapon, namely an iron bar, intentional damage, being unlawfully on a property and stealing $1850 of car accessories between August 11 and 25.

Judge Phillips said Fincher made an "alarming" statement to his pre-sentence report writer that he wanted to go to jail rather than accept a sentence of electronic monitoring.

"I don't know whether that was stupidity or bravado. You thinking you were tough enough to be a prisoner. In the end, I think you were naive," Judge Phillips said.

"I think you said it because your brain was dead – I'll treat the comment accordingly."

Judge Phillips described how Fincher, armed with an iron bar, went to the house of a man he claimed owed him money and got a female friend to knock on the door while he waited.

The man was not home so Fincher used the iron bar to smash the window of a van parked outside his house, he said.

Two weeks later, Fincher broke into several cars and took items.

Judge Phillips sentenced Fincher to 250 hours' community work, ordered him to pay $1061.37 reparation and disqualified him from driving for four months.

Assault
Raynor Ranui Larsen, 23, fisherman, will be sentenced on January 27 for assault with a broken bottle and assault with intent to injure, assaulting a female and injuring with intent.

Jewell Rayna Ataria, 30, will be sentenced on November 27 for assaulting police, resisting police and threatening to injure and threatening behaviour.

Brandon Benjamin Kohi, 17, unemployed, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work, fined $250 and ordered to pay $5.50 reparation for theft and disorderly behaviour.

Stacey Dannielle Grace Manahi, 21, will be sentenced on March 2 for assault with a glass bottle on May 10.

Tamara Charmaine Bryant, 20, jockey, of Drummond, was sentenced to 10 months' jail and disqualified from for 15 months on charges of assault, driving while prohibited, drink-driving, failing to answer district court bail, breaching her supervision and community work, wilful damage, possession of an offensive weapon, and resisting police.

Theft
Gregory William Claxton, 47, oyster opener, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for stealing a pair of boots from The Warehouse.

Intentional Damage
Halen George Kumeroa, 20, of Bluff, will be sentenced on November 24 for intentional damage.

Sarah Louise Price, 18, was fined $200 and ordered to pay $300 reparation for intentional damage, disorderly behaviour and resisting police.

Eric Mahu McQuinn, 23, farm hand, was fined $300 for intentionally damaging a glass window .

Jay Bonner, 17, was sentenced to 100 hours' community work, and nine months' supervision for intentionally damaging a window and breaching community work .

Receiving
Shane Allan Kidd, 44, labourer, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and ordered to pay $1500 reparation for receiving a motorcycle, and being reckless as to whether it had been obtained by a crime at Alexandra.

Threatening
Darren Craig Welson, 33, unemployed, will be sentenced on December 8 for threatening to kill.

Misleading
Andrew John Canny, 24, was sentenced to 200 hours' community work for misleading social welfare, resulting in an overpayment of $12,015.83.

Breach
Kieran Michael Hawke, 30, of Bluff, was convicted and discharged for breaching community work.

Daniel Christopher Meek, 22, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for breaching community work.

Joshua Richard Briggs, 23, no fixed abode, will be sentenced on January 22 for breaching home detention.

Ashleigh Hannah Agnew-White, 18, will be sentenced on January 22 for breaching community work.

Louise Mary Milnes, 41, of Tutarau, was sentenced to 40 hours' community work for breaching community work on September 27.

Driving
Cameron Donald Rangi, 17, tyre fitter, was sentenced to 50 hours' community work and disqualified for six months after he admitted wheel spinning.

Drink-driving
Lachlan McLean, 18, will be sentenced on March 10 for driving with a breath-alcohol level of 912mcg.

Christian Valdemer Briggs, 47, of Drummond, 487mcg. Will be sentenced on January 22.

Lorella Shiree Thomas, 42, dairy worker, of Winton, 748mcg at Winton. Sentenced to 100 hours' community work and disqualified for 10 months.

Jade Rangi Cooper, 18, of Kelso, 727mcg. Sentenced to 75 hours' community work and disqualified for six months.

Cayla Debbie Pou, 21, 646mcg. Fined $650 and disqualified for eight months.

Paegan Ellen Proudman, 17, of Otautau, 602mcg. Fined $600 and disqualified for six months.

- © Fairfax NZ News