LESS than four months out of jail for drug-related offences, Jay Daniel Phillip Egan was allegedly caught with $11,000 worth of methamphetamine and $4,200 in cash at the north Orange shopping centre car park on Friday night.
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Egan was refused bail in Orange Local Court on Monday after he was charged with six offences including resisting arrest, hindering police and supplying a prohibited drug.
The 29-year-old was well-known to police when officers saw him in full motorcycle gear including jacket, gloves and helmet at the car park.
They knew his licence was disqualified until 2030.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Varinda Pawar argued Egan posed an unacceptable risk to the community and should remain behind bars until his charges were finalised.
“I don’t believe any form of bail can mitigate that risk,” Sergeant Pawar said.
Egan has previously spent six months in prison for failing to appear at court when he was required to, and his extensive criminal history is littered with drug offences including the last charge of possession, for which he spent three months in jail.
“He has been charged with serious offences including violence against police,” Sergeant Pawar said.
“He is facing a lengthy period of imprisonment.”
Police facts said when officers searched Egan at 7.15pm on Friday night they found about 22 grams of ice and $4200 worth of cash wrapped up in a bundle with tape.
He declined to comment on the offences, however, in court he pleaded guilty to resisting police, hindering police and driving while disqualified.
No plea was entered to the drug-possession charge, the drug-supply charge or the charge of possessing goods believed to be stolen.
Egan’s solicitor Rayna Pettit said his client would be willing to be placed under house arrest if he were allowed bail.
“He has a full-time job and has had that job since he got out of prison four months ago,” she said.
However the magistrate, Terry Lucas, denied the Richard Laffin Place resident bail because of his criminal history.
“The time in custody, if found guilty, is likely to be months at a minimum,” he said.
Egan appeared via audio-visual link from Bathurst Correctional Centre and spat at the screen at the end of the hearing.
He is due back in court in January.
