By Danielle Kutchel
A Casey motivational speaker has avoided jail after flouting WA’s quarantine laws.
John McMahon, known as ‘The Rev’ and for his work with youth organisation Motov8, appeared in Perth Magistrates Court on Friday 23 July after being charged with one count of giving false or misleading information, and two counts of failing to comply with a direction.
The former school chaplain flew into Perth in June after giving a presentation in Queensland and then driving back to Victoria via New South Wales.
Upon entering WA, McMahon was told to self-quarantine for 14 days – but when officers went to check where he was staying, he wasn’t there.
McMahon instead held presentations in Rockingham and Fremantle before being arrested by police.
Police alleged he also gave false information when entering WA, stating that he had not travelled further than 30km from his home before flying west.
He pleaded guilty to all three charges and was refused bail at a court appearance on Friday 25 June.
Bail was granted after a further appearance on Thursday 8 July, subject to a number of conditions.
Appearing for sentencing on Friday 23 July, McMahon’s lawyer Damien Cripps said his client had not self-isolated in part because he hadn’t paid attention to what he was told at the airport.
But Magistrate Evan Shackleton heard McMahon had made a number of Facebook posts expressing disdain for Covid restrictions.
Mr Shackleton said it appeared that McMahon had “arrived in WA with an attitude of complete defiance”.
The Facebook posts have since been deleted.
Mr Shackleton accepted that McMahon felt remorseful about his behaviour and no longer held the views he had expressed on Facebook.
McMahon received an eight-month suspended sentence and was fined $5000 for providing false information.
