Woman jailed in Geraldton for spitting at police and claiming she had COVID-19

A former paralegal in Geraldton with a “promising future” has been jailed for 15 months after spitting repeatedly at police officers, telling them she had COVID-19 before cruelly claiming they and their kids were “going to die”. Khia Nicole Cameron, 29, faced Geraldton District Court today to be sentenced on charges of assault and creating a false belief. The court was told on April 29 this year, police officers were called to break up a fight between Cameron and another woman in Geraldton when she turned her anger onto them. Cameron said she was “deeply mortified” about what happened next. She was extremely intoxicated and began shouting and spitting at them saying that she “had COVID-19” and the officers and their “kids are going to die”. Cameron was tested for coronavirus later that day, and returned a negative result. Prosecutor Leslie Gabriel said this came at a time when there was heightened community awareness and fear of COVID-19. “She continued to spit even after she was told to stop,” he said.“This caused completely unnecessary stress to the officers who had to be quarantined.” The court was also told Cameron had four previous convictions for assaulting police officers, including one for spitting, and had been given a suspended sentence in Geraldton Magistrate’s Court for an assault charge five days before the offence occurred. Mr Gabriel said this was “indicative of entrenched disregard for authority”. In a letter to Judge Michael Gething, Cameron expressed deep remorse for her actions and apologised to the officers involved. “I’m deeply ashamed of my behaviour on the night of my arrest… alcohol turned me into a vile person,” she wrote. “I’m truly remorseful to the police officers for the distress I’ve caused.” Defence lawyer Xavier Sellathambu said earlier in her life Cameron had a promising future and previously worked for the Aboriginal Legal Service as a receptionist and paralegal. “Things went downhill quickly when her first boyfriend introduced her to drugs,” he said. “Ms Cameron was very intoxicated on the day and had very limited memory of what happened. She’s mortified by her actions and now realises she needs to commit to rehabilitation.” Handing down the sentence, Judge Gething said he was prepared to accept Cameron had turned a corner in her life and would engage in rehabilitation. “Ms Cameron your biggest issue seems to be alcohol abuse,” he said. “You got a chance from the court system to avoid jail and you failed it. “Your claim that you had COVID-19 would undoubtedly have created fear in the police officers.” Cameron was sentenced to a total term of 15 months imprisonment backdated to June 29 and will be eligible for parole after December 14. After Cameron was sentenced, WA Police Union president Harry Arnott said the spitting offence was a “low and disgusting act.” “Our members do a tough enough job without being subject to this type of disgusting behaviour,” he said. “It is these types of incidents which caused us to push for harsher penalties.” He said offenders who intentionally spit at police officers and risk the transmission of diseases deserved to go to jail for a prolonged period like Cameron.