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.
In a plea hearing on October 31, the court heard the charges stemmed from incidents in and around Benalla in November and December 2024.
Howard was a passenger in a stolen Toyota HiLux being driven by a now 29-year-old Shepparton man on December 5.
Police found two videos of the 29-year-old shooting a gun on a road next to a vehicle at about 2.30am on Howard’s phone.
Another video showed a 26-year-old Shepparton man — who was in the back seat — shooting a gun from the back passenger side window while the HiLux was being driven at 6.35am.
The court heard the 26-year-old threw the gun and ammunition from the back seat while speeding around Benalla.
Two videos showed the 29-year-old lighting and fuelling a fire underneath the HiLux at Goomalibee at 11.50pm, which CFA firefighters put out.
However, another video showed it being relit on December 7, and it was found completely burnt out on December 8.
Videos on Howard’s phone showed him 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.
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.
He told police he had cannabis on him, and they found a 20cm knife, a balaclava, gloves, ammunition, cartridges and torches in his satchel.
During a sentencing hearing, Howard’s defence barrister Naomi Newbound asked magistrate Peter Mithen to not record a conviction for her client because he was young, committed to recovery, and it would make it harder for him to get work, which he was actively looking for.
Mr Mithen said although Howard didn’t set the HiLux on fire, it was a “hell of a cost on the community”, which was paying high insurance premiums, as well as being fed “up to its back teeth with firearms offences”.
He noted although Howard might’ve been led astray, he needed to be stronger and “make sure this never happens again”.
He also told Howard to stop using ice because it will “leave you on your knees with nothing left in your life”.
Mr Mithen sentenced Howard to a 12-month community corrections order, and no conviction was recorded.
Under the order Howard must complete 120 hours of unpaid community work, which Mr Mithen said could be credited toward programs.
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