Albany man Marcus Tom Kennedy facing ‘virtually inevitable’ jail for methamphetamine and heroin possession

An Albany man has been slapped with drug possession and supply charges after police allegedly found methamphetamine when they stopped him for driving his motorbike on the footpath. Marcus Tom Kennedy was denied bail in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday after he was arrested by police on February 27 and charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply and possession of stolen or unlawfully obtained money. The 41-year-old was already facing a host of charges, including possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or supply, possession of heroin, possession of cannabis, and possession of a firearm or ammunition while unlicensed. He is being held on remand in Albany Regional Prison. Police prosecutor Sgt Dylan Fisher said police allegedly found 12g of methamphetamine on Mr Kennedy when they stopped him for using an electric motorcycle on a footpath in Bayonet Head on February 27. This led police to search Mr Kennedy’s house, where they allegedly found a further 27g of methamphetamine. Mr Kennedy was allegedly in possession of 30g of methamphetamine on January 12 in Orana in similar circumstances after he was also stopped by police using a motorcycle on a footpath. He is also accused of possessing methamphetamine, heroin, and cannabis in August 2024 in Bayonet Head. Lawyer Wendy Stewart provided documents to the court that outlined a “semi-urgent” surgery Mr Kennedy needs on his throat, which she argued if operated on while in custody would place a burden on the prison system. Mr Kennedy had to prove exceptional circumstances due to already being on bail for the January offence for his bail application. Ms Stewart said her client acknowledged the strength of the case against him and requested bail to get his affairs in order and marry his partner on April 9. She said there could also be a delay in sentencing as some of the charges were strictly indictable due to the amount of methamphetamine Mr Kennedy has been accused of possessing. Sgt Fisher considered Mr Kennedy a flight risk due to the seriousness of the charges and said the chance of a lengthy term of imprisonment was high due to a “solid” case against him. Magistrate Erin O’Donnell said she was not satisfied that exceptional circumstances had been reached and Mr Kennedy was accused of doing “essentially exactly the same thing” in January. Ms O’Donnell described methamphetamine as a “scourge” that “wrecks communities”. “It is unacceptable for anyone to be involved in the dissemination of methamphetamine,” she said. Ms O’Donnell said imprisonment of Mr Kennedy was not only likely but “virtually inevitable”. Mr Kennedy’s bail application was denied and he will next appear in Albany Magistrates Court on April 3.