Cruze Howard, 19, of Mooroopna, pleaded guilty in the Koori Court division of Shepparton Magistrates’ Court to arson, two counts of possessing a gun while unlicensed, possessing cartridge ammunition, possessing a controlled weapon, going equipped to steal, the retention of stolen goods and possessing cannabis.
The court heard the charges stemmed from incidents involving a stolen Toyota HiLux in and around Benalla — which Howard was a passenger in — in November and December 2024.
Prosecutor Senior Constable Kerrie Thompson said a now aged 29-year-old Shepparton man was the driver, and a now aged 26-year-old Shepparton man was in the passenger side back seat when they were driving around on December 5.
Police found eight videos on Howard’s phone, including one showing blue and red flashing emergency lights at 3.15am just before they were pulled over.
Two videos showed the 29-year-old co-accused shooting a gun on a public road next to a vehicle at about 2.30am, and another showed the backseat passenger shooting a gun from the back window while the vehicle was travelling on a public road at 6.35am on December 5.
The court heard the 26-year-old threw a gun — which police later found wrapped in a towel in a Shepparton backyard — and ammunition from the back seat of the HiLux while speeding around Benalla before being pulled over by police.
Two videos showed the 29-year-old lighting and fuelling a fire underneath the stolen ute that was bogged at Goomalibee at 11.50pm, after unsuccessfully trying to use another ute to free it.
CFA firefighters found a butane gas bottle in the ute after being called to the fire, the court heard.
There is also footage of the ute being relit on fire on December 7, and it was found completely burnt out at 8.30am on December 8.
Two videos showed Howard holding a gun on November 21, and an ammunition belt on November 27.
There was also a photo of him holding a container of gun rounds on December 2.
Sen Constable Thompson told the court police pulled Howard over in a different Toyota HiLux with two co-accused — one being the 29-year-old Shepparton man — in Benalla on December 8, 2024.
Howard told police he had cannabis in his underwear.
They also found a 20cm knife, a balaclava, gloves, ammunition, cartridges and torches in his satchel.
Howard and the 29-year-old were arrested in Benalla on December 10.
Howard’s defence barrister Naomi Newbound said the offending was “somewhat out of character” for her client who was homeless at the time and had experienced a lack of stability in his life.
Ms Newbound said Howard was “embarrassed” by his offending, and it’s not who he wanted to be.
She said Howard was using ice, but addressing his drug and mental health issues was a high priority for him.
The magistrate ordered Howard be assessed for a community corrections order, despite seriously considering sending him to prison.
He said he was giving him a chance because he was young and had no prior convictions.
“You could’ve lost everything today,” he said.
“That’s the position you’ve put yourself in.”
He told Howard he had to stop using ice and “grab this opportunity with both hands”.
“By using ice, you’re skating on a thin substance,” he said.
“It will wreck everything.
“You don’t want to go down that path.”
Howard will be sentenced later in November.
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