A man caught dealing four different types of drugs in Warrnambool has received a reduced sentence after pleading guilty to drugs offences
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Xavier Karras, 22, of Seaholme, south-west of Melbourne, pleaded guilty in Warrnambool Magistrates' Court last week to possessing proceeds of crime and trafficking and possessing cocaine, ketamine, MDMA and cannabis.
He was jailed on Monday for 120 days with 81 days already served in custody on remand.
Upon his release he will commence a 24-month corrections order with the condition he do 300 hours of community work.
Magistrate John Lesser said up to 180 hours of drug rehabilitation could be credited to the total hours.
He said drug dealing had a "profound impact" on local communities and strong general and specific deterrence was necessary.
But he said Karras had "a number of things going in your favour", including his age and no prior criminal history.
The magistrate said Karras pleaded guilty at an early opportunity and showed "compelling remorse" for his behaviour.
For that, he said Karras received a significantly reduced sentence.
"If not for your guilty plea I would have jailed you in the range of 12 months," Mr Lesser said.
"I have quite a degree of confidence that your rehabilitation can and will take place given your strong family support in the community.
"If you take up the option for residential rehabilitation that would be a very sensible approach."
Mr Lesser wished Karras well for the future.
"I hope we don't see you again," he said.
"You can make amends for (your offending) and I hope you will.
"I hope with the support of your parents and work with your father's business, it will really kick you into a whole new world."
Karras was arrested in July after a random vehicle intercept led to a police raid which located more than $25,000 in cash and a smorgasbord of drugs at an east Warrnambool home.
The court heard he was intercepted driving a Mercedes sedan on Warrnambool's Mahoneys Road on July 3 about 9.30pm.
Karras, a learner driver, was behind the wheel and being supervised by co-accused Alistar Bourke, 23, of Warrnambool, who allegedly tested positive for an illicit substance in a preliminary oral fluid test.
A search revealed Karras was carrying $2165 in cash and Mr Bourke $1600.
Police then executed a drugs search warrant at Mr Bourke's address.
The court heard the raid uncovered 46 grams of cocaine, 36 grams of ketamine, 33 grams of MDMA and 10 grams of cannabis.
Some of the drugs were packaged and ready for sale, including 16 small bags of cocaine that were separated into one-gram portions.
Some of the cannabis was located in scent-free deal bags.
Police believe the two men still owe over $30,000 for the drugs seized during the raid.
The court heard another $2000 was found in Karras' bedroom and in Mr Bourke's bedroom another $20,100 in cash.
Investigators believe the pair regularly travelled to Melbourne and Ballarat to pick up the drugs before selling them in Warrnambool through SnapChat.
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