Katanning woman who obstructed police from arresting someone and had a large amount of drugs is fined

A Katanning woman who obstructed police from arresting someone and possessed a large amount of cannabis, including a “communal bowl”, has received a big fine. Deanne Michelle Thomas appeared in Katanning Magistrates Court on December 16, where she was sentenced for obstructing police officers, failing to comply with police requirements, three counts of drug possession, and being an owner who permits use of premises. The 42-year-old pleaded guilty to the obstruction charge during her appearance, and had previously entered guilty pleas to the other five charges. On October 24, police were arresting a person known to Thomas, prompting her to block the officer from getting into the police cab, which was captured on body-worn cameras shortly after 11am. Two months earlier, on August 18, during a search, police found two plastic smoking implements and a total of 35.4g of cannabis in Thomas’ Katanning home, including a “communal” one gram in a bowl on the kitchen table. These offences came after 2024 offending, when on December 13 that year, Thomas refused to give the PIN code to her phone when asked by police who were investigating evidence of selling and supplying drugs, after she was discovered with methamphetamine. The community corrections officer told the court that the 2024 offences breached a community-based order and were one of several reoffending breaches that resulted in the order’s cancellation. The officer said Thomas had been served other orders since then, to which she showed “sporadic” compliance and often needed reminders to attend programs. Her lawyer, Kyah Langdon, said Thomas was very remorseful for her actions and had “learnt the hard way” regarding her past, prompting positive change such as ceasing methamphetamine use and regularly seeing a doctor for help. Ms Langdon also noted that Thomas cares for her eight-year-old grandchild, which helps her stay on track and clarified that the communal cannabis is not just “for anybody” to use, only those known to Thomas. She said Thomas felt she had to protect the person the police had been arresting and was overcome with emotion, but understood the officers job should not be made harder. Ms Langdon presented two character references and a medical form to Magistrate Rosemarie Myers. Ms Myers told Thomas the “last thing you needed is drugs in the house” when caring for a child in case they get hold of it, and “if that isn’t enough to tell you to pull your finger out” she did not know what would. She said she hoped Thomas would make changes to better look after her grandchild. Thomas was fined $1550 with $308.80 in costs.