NEWS
Court for lewd caller A Narre Warren South man has pleaded guilty to making explicit phone calls to dance studios about girl students featured on their websites. Dean Meyer, 35, may also face further charges relating to electronic devices seized by police from his home, Dandenong Magistrates' Court heard on 5 March. Meyer's series of anonymous calls were made to five victims running local and interstate studios in 2014-17. They included a graphic request for sex
with a girl who had been featured in photos of her in dance costume on the studio's website. Most of the calls, which were similar in nature, were made from private numbers traced back to Meyer's phone, prosecutor Senior Constable Jaimie Jeffs told the court. One of the victims described her fear and sleepless nights after Meyer repeatedly called and requested sex with her daughter. Another stated she felt unsafe at home alone with her children, the court heard. Meyer was arrested when intercepted in a car by police in October 2017.
He was initially remanded in custody and then released on bail by a magistrate. He had no prior convictions, the court was told. Sen Const Jeffs said Greater Dandenong Sexual Offences and Child Abuse Investigation Team had not yet indicated when it would lay further charges. The pending charges were based on material found on memory cards, CDs, hard drives and a laptop seized from Meyer's home. The hearing was adjourned until 27 March pending the possible further charges.
Second chance as footy star beats jail By Brendan Rees A former AFL footballer and known SouthEast superstar who pleaded guilty to a series of drugs and weapons offences, including possessing an unregistered handgun, has been spared jail. Justin Lee Berry, 36, of Dandenong North, faced charges of trafficking methylamphetamine, ecstasy and butanediol over a threeyear period in the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 2 March. Berry was also charged with possession of a taser, knuckle dusters, a flick knife, 9mm pistol ammunition, an imitation firearm, stolen bank cards and driver licences, multiple plastic snap lock bags containing drugs, and a stolen Yamaha motor bike valued at more than $7000. Judge Jack Vandersteen praised Berry for his engagement with drug treatment during his CISP bail program after he was arrested during a police raid at his home on 29 September last year. Berry was given a 12-month community corrections order and ordered to perform 250 hours of unpaid community work for 12 months. “While you’ve been undertaken to that program, you have attended every condition and gone over and beyond what was required of you in terms of maintaining your rehabilitation,” Mr Vandersteen said. “Had you not pleaded guilty to the charges before the court, I would have sentenced you to nine months' imprisonment and placed you on a 12-month community corrections order,” he said. Berry was drafted by St Kilda in 2001 and played top-up games with Carlton in the VFL. He has been a superstar in Melbourne’s SouthEast, with stints at Cranbourne, Devon Meadows, and Garfield as well as Frankston’s VFL side. Mr Vandersteen credited Berry for being cooperative with police, gaining employment, focusing on his family and acting as a role model and volunteer at his local football club. “You’ve done everything right. You place yourself in a very strong position,” he said. Mr Vandersteen noted Berry’s age, his limited criminal history, his full admissions to
A Casey Council election candidate has been charged with failing to disclose donations made to him during the 2016 poll. Frank Lamattina, a well-known vegetable grower in Clyde, was charged by the Local Government Inspectorate for allegedly failing to submit a return by the 1 December 2016 deadline. Candidates were required to submit returns for gifts or donations totalling more than $500. At the 2016 Casey election, Mr Lamattina - a past Liberal donor - polled second in Balla Balla Ward with 1862 first-preference votes. Mayor Geoff Ablett, who was preferenced by Mr Lamattina, won the seat with more than 7000 votes. Cr Ablett - who has stood as a Liberal state candidate - declined to comment on Mr Lamattina’s charge. State Liberal opposition leader Matthew Guy told Star News he wouldn’t comment specifically on Mr Lamattina’s charge, which was “live” before the courts. The Liberal Party put in its own election donation submission every year consistent with Australian Electoral Commission rules, he said. Local government election rules were different but “everyone has to adhere to those rules”. “They’re not voluntary.” Chief municipal inspector David Wolf said the disclosure of a candidate’s financial backers was a “key factor in the integrity of local government”. “While we don’t take prosecution action lightly, it is important that we pursue these matters and allow the courts to determine the seriousness of the offence.” The offence carries a court imposed fine of $9327.60. Another Casey candidate Faisal Najibi pleaded guilty to the offence at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 1 March. Mr Najibi was placed on an adjourned undertaking without conviction, and ordered to pay $1000 in costs to the Local Government Inspectorate.
Justin Berry in his glory days. police, and the fact that he kept up his drug rehabilitation. He said it was important for Berry to ensure he upheld high standards if he chose to be involved in sporting clubs. Berry’s lawyer, Jacqui Caust of Dandenong
Legal Aid said Berry was remorseful and was motivated in keeping his appointments with his counsellor. His 12-month CCO includes supervision, and drug and mental health treatment. Seventy-five hours of Berry’s rehabilitation may be regarded as unpaid community work.
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Frank Lamattina has been charged by the Local Government Inspectorate.
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Lamattina charged
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