Drug trafficker Robert Jeffery Johns handed more time behind bars for further drug dealing while on parole

A 37-year-old Bunbury man is set to serve more time behind bars and has been declared a drug trafficker after possessing more than 30g of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply while on parole for other offences. Robert Jeffery Johns appeared in the Bunbury District Court in December where he was ordered to serve a further three years and nine months behind bars on top of an existing jail term he received in 2017 after pleading guilty to possessing a trafficable quantity of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply. The court was told police conducted a search of Johns’ Eaton home on the morning of March 19 last year where they located Johns standing alone in the dining area. Police located and seized a clipseal bag from the dining room floor which contained 37.73g of methamphetamine, as well as various items consistent with drug dealing throughout his bedroom including empty clipseal bags, scales, multiple mobile phones and $10,125 in cash. One of the mobile phones seized was identified as a cipher device while another had an encrypted application installed, which upon review revealed messages relating to the sale and supply of prohibited drugs. In submissions, the court was told the offending was “not isolated behaviour” and Johns was involved in a commercial enterprise exclusively for profit. The court was also told Johns was on parole for a five year and six month jail term received in October 2017 for other drug-related offences including two counts of possessing methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, possessing cannabis with intent to sell or supply, possessing a firearm without a licence and two counts of possessing money suspected to be unlawfully obtained. It was found Johns was released on parole in June 2020 with the prison term set to expire in February, but it was suspended following his March 2021 arrest. It was also submitted Johns had been abstaining from drug use at the time of offending and had engaged with counselling and programs while he was on remand. Johns will be eligible for parole in November 2023.