STATE OF TASMANIA v STEPHEN RONALD SONNERS 18 SEPTEMBER 2026
COMMENTS ON PASSING SENTENCE ESTCOURT J
The defendant, Stephen Ronald Sonners, born 10 November 1967, has pleaded guilty to one count of dealing with property suspected as being the proceeds of crime.
On 21 October 2024, the defendant was convicted in the Launceston Magistrates Court for driving without a licence while exceeding the prescribed alcohol limit. He was sentenced to 35 hours of community service and disqualified from driving until 20 October 2025. On 20 September 2025, at approximately 20:30 hours he was intercepted by police while driving a white Holden Rodeo utility on the Tasman Highway at Triabunna. Although his breath test was negative, it was discovered that he was driving while disqualified. During the stop, the officer noticed a large cardboard box on the passenger seat and detected the smell of cannabis. The defendant claimed the box contained paperwork but revealed bundles of cash when questioned further. He was arrested for driving while disqualified and unlawful possession of property.
The vehicle was searched under the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001, and a telephone search warrant was obtained. Items seized included three Google Pixel phones, a snap lock bag containing cannabis, and $1,065,660 in cash. The cash included loose notes and ten cryovaced bundles, each containing $100,000, with one bundle marked “100K” and a smiley face. The defendant was taken to Hobart Police Station for further investigation. An initial check of one of the phones revealed encrypted messages on the Threema application, which is commonly used by organised crime groups.
The messages indicated that the defendant was delivering cash to someone on the East Coast. A group chat named “Final pass” had been created the day before, involving individuals identified as Scout (which is said to be Mr Sonners), Neptune, Capo, Blade, and Cerus (said to be the group creator). The chat contained instructions for delivering money and warnings about police presence.
The State asserts that the defendant was collecting money from the sale of controlled substances and delivering it. During a police interview he claimed he found the box under a bridge, but he later admitted that this was false. He acknowledged receiving the box from Blade at the Sorell Bowls Club/Community Centre and stated that he was delivering it to Falmouth, where he was instructed to leave it in the bush near the beach. The defendant admitted involvement with the Nomads bike club and stated that he was to receive $1,000–$2,000 for the delivery to help pay off his debts. He presumed the money was linked to criminal activity and expressed concerns about his safety with the money having being lost to those involved.
He was charged, processed, and detained, spending time in custody from 20 September 2025 to 6 October 2025. He appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court on 6 October 2025 and was granted bail. He indicated his intention to plead guilty on 2 April 2026.
The defendant has no relevant prior convictions.
I have had the benefit of a pre-sentence report prepared in respect of the defendant by Community Corrections and extensive written submissions prepared on his behalf by his counsel.
He was born on 10 November 1967 and reported a positive childhood and maintained close relationships with his parents until their deaths in 2020, as well as with his sister and nephew. He has four children living interstate, with whom he maintains regular contact. He is single.
He lives alone at a private rental property at [address redacted] where he has lived for approximately eight years. A home assessment conducted on 12 August 2026 confirmed that property is suitable for electronic monitoring.
He spends his time working, socialising with friends, and watching football. He has distanced himself from pro-criminal associates and is involved in a local social club.
The defendant completed Year 10 and reported no academic issues, though he experienced racism and bullying during school. He is self-employed as a painter with irregular working hours and has held this position for three and a half years. He previously served in the Army from 1986 to 1990.
The defendant has physical and mental health issues, including complications from a knee replacement surgery in 2025 and psychological effects from the experience. He is prescribed Lyrica for pain management and antidepressants for anger management. He has a history of alcohol-related offences, including imprisonment in 1998, but currently consumes alcohol moderately. He is seeking a prescription for medicinal cannabis.
The defendant admits delivering a box containing money for an associate in exchange for $1,000 or so. He claimed he was unaware of the amount of money involved and expressed shock upon learning its quantity. He admitted to being a “people pleaser” and expressed remorse, stating he would not engage in similar behaviour again.
He does have a history of compliance with community-based orders.
It is to be noted that the defendant has been charged under s 66B(1) of the Crime (Confiscation of Profits) Act 1993. It is very important to note that the subsection reads:
“(1) A person who deals with property, if there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the property is proceeds of crime, is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.”
Having possession of property amounts to “dealing” with it for the purpose of this legislation. Under s 66B(2), it is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under s 66B(1) if the defendant satisfies the court that he or she had no reasonable grounds for suspecting that the property was substantially derived or realised, directly or indirectly, from an act or omission constituting an offence against a law in force in the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory. The defendant did not seek, however, to establish his innocence pursuant to that provision. He is not, however, to be sentenced on the basis that he knew or believed that the money constituted proceeds of crime. If any such knowledge, or even recklessness, were established, he would be guilty of a more serious offence with a higher maximum penalty.
In all the circumstances, the defendant is convicted and sentenced to 15 months’ home detention.
The order will contain all of the core conditions contained in s 42AD (1) of Part 5A of the Sentencing Act 1997 be imposed.
Pursuant to s 42AD (1) (g) and (h) of that Act the following conditions will be included in the Order, as well as the following special conditions:
During the operational period of the Order you must observe the following conditions:
1 You must attend the Community Corrections office at 75 Liverpool Street, Hobart for induction onto this order directly following Court today, 18 September 2026.
2 You must not commit an offence that is punishable by imprisonment.
3 You must, during the operational period of this order remain at [address redacted], at all times unless approved by a probation officer.
4 You must be at the home detention premises at all times, except if you are not on those premises because:
(a) you are travelling to or from, or are at, premises seeking urgent medical treatment or dental treatment; or
(b) it was necessary to leave the premises in order to avoid or minimise a serious risk of, the death of, or injury to, you or another person; or
(c) with the approval of a probation officer or prescribed officer, given –
(i) so as to enable you to comply with a special condition; or
(ii) so as to enable you to seek or engage in employment; or
(iii) so as to enable you to attend an educational or training course or activity; or
(iv) so as to enable you to attend a rehabilitative or re-integrative activity or program; or
(v) so as to enable you to attend a court; or
(vi) for any other purpose approved by the probation officer or prescribed officer.
5 You must permit a police officer, probation officer or prescribed officer to enter the home detention premises.
6 You must permit a police officer to:
(a) Conduct a search of the home detention premises; and
(b) conduct a frisk search, within the meaning of the Search Warrants Act 1997, of you, at the home detention premises or at any other place or premises; and
(c) take a sample of a substance found on the home detention premises or on you.
7 You must comply with any reasonable and lawful directions of a probation officer or prescribed officer, including any directions of you as to the kind of employment, or the place of employment, of the offender.
8 You must, during all of the operational period of the order submit to electronic monitoring, including by wearing or carrying an electronic device.
9 During the period that you are required to submit to electronic monitoring:
(a) You must not remove, tamper with, damage or interfere with the proper functioning of any electronic device or equipment used for the purpose of electronic monitoring;
(b) You must not allow anyone else to remove, tamper with, damage, disable or interfere with the proper functioning of any electronic device or equipment used for the purpose of electronic monitoring; and
(c) You must comply with all reasonable and lawful directions given to you in relation to the electronic monitoring, including in relation to the installation, attachment or operation of a device, or a system, used for the purposes of electronic monitoring by:
(i) a police officer;
(ii) a probation officer or prescribed officer; or
(iii) another person whose functions involve the installation or operation of a device, or a system, used for the purposes of electronic monitoring.
10 You must, during the operational period of the order, maintain in operating condition an active mobile phone service, provide the contact details to Community Corrections and be accessible for contact through this device at all times.
11 You must not, during the operational period of the order, take any illicit or prohibited substances. Illicit and prohibited substances include:
(a) Any controlled drug as defined by the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001.
(b) Any medication containing an Opiate, Benzodiazepine, Bupropion, Hydrochloride or Pseudoephedrine, unless you provide written evidence from your medical professional that you have been prescribed the relevant medication.
12 You must not, during the operational period of the order, consume alcohol and you must, if directed to do so by a police officer or Community Corrections officer submit to a breath test, urine test, or other test, for the presence of alcohol.
13 You must submit to the supervision of a Community Corrections officer as required by that officer.