A Koonawarra woman will spend at least eight months in jail for her part in an illegal gun sale that was thwarted by police.
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Police swooped before the sale, in a car park off Mullet Creek in Dapto, could take place on the night of June 14.
Joanne Lee Mitchell was one of two people arrested after they were allegedly found hiding in bushes nearby.
The swoop came a week after eight guns went missing from a home at Dapto.
The guns’ licensed owner noticed the firearms missing from a secured locker; another four guns and some ammunition were left behind.
Later that day, Mitchell met with a woman at a Dapto address and handed her a black sports bag containing five firearms.
The woman initially didn’t look at the contents, but several days later called on Mitchell to collect the bag, warning she would otherwise arrange for it to be disposed of.
Lake Illawarra detectives became aware of the guns’ likely whereabouts and began monitoring the telephone communications of Mitchell’s co-accused, Adam Goodacre, and Goodacre’s partner, Kate Cecelia Powers.
Police allegedly learnt Goodacre had struck a deal to sell five of the eight rifles for $8,000.
On June 14, Goodacre allegedly arranged to meet a male buyer in a creek-side carpark off Prince Edward Drive.
Police arrived at the location around 10.30pm to see Goodacre sitting in the front seat of a Holden Commodore.
He allegedly tried to flee when he saw the police car, ramming it with his own vehicle before running off across park land.
He was arrested in nearby bush a short time later, with police allegedly locating five rifles in the car boot.
Mitchell was also found hiding nearby, and was arrested.
Powers was charged four days later. She has since pleaded guilty to a firearms offence and will be sentenced March 28.
Goodacre’s matter remains before the court.
On Thursday Mitchell, 35, was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, with a non-parole period of eight months.
With time already served she became eligible for parole on Thursday.