A man accused of hiding more than 60 grams of ice, stolen firearms and cash in his roof cavity has failed to stay in the lower court because the charges and circumstances are too serious.
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Matthew Vincent Piscopo appeared at the online Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Wednesday to apply for summary jurisdiction.
He faces five charges, including trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine, possessing a traffickable quantity of firearms and dealing with property suspected to be the proceeds of crime.
Crown prosecutor Raelene Maxwell said a search warrant was executed at Piscopo's Ballarat property on May 28 and a total of 62.3 grams of methamphetamine, six firearms and stolen property was located.
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She said three of the six firearms were stolen and one was a homemade pistol which was loaded. Piscopo does not hold a firearms licence and he is a prohibited person to own a firearm.
Ms Maxwell said almost 60 grams of the ice was discovered in Piscopo's garage roof cavity, along with two of the firearms and $5000 cash.
She said the homemade pistol, a modified rifle, another gun in pieces and ammunition was located buried in Piscopo's backyard. A cruiser road motorbike, an off-road motorbike and tools were allegedly found at the property.
Piscopo and his co-accused, Ruby Davoren, were arrested. Ms Maxwell said Piscopo told police the drugs were for personal use and he had the firearms for protection because he had been assaulted in the past.
She said the maximum penalty of five years' imprisonment the Magistrates' Court could impose was within range but the prosecution opposed Piscopo's application due to the seriousness of the offending.
Defence lawyer Adrian Paull argued the charges were capable of being resolved in the Magistrates' Court.
He said a plea would include submissions about his Piscopo's heavy drug use, the firearms were obtained after he was assaulted and some of the firearms were in pieces or had no ammunition.
Mental health documents would be sought to support Piscopo's defence.
Mr Paull said keeping the matter in the lower court would help address the backlog of cases in the County Court.
However, magistrate Letizia Torres said she was not persuaded the matter was appropriate for the Magistrates' Court and she refused the application.
"These matters are frequently heard in the County Court. The combination of the charges and circumstances puts it in the higher category," Ms Torres said.
Piscopo was remanded in custody and the matter was adjourned until next month for a further committal mention.
The prosecution indicated the charge of trafficking a commercial quantity of methamphetamine would be withdrawn because the purity was less than 50 grams.