Mark Anthony John Stolban: Albany man jailed for $1 million drug bust in 2012 fined for bizarre dirt bike act

An Albany man once jailed over a $1 million drug bust has been fined for an incident in which he fell into a pond with methamphetamine in his possession after colliding with a police car on a dirt bike. Mark Anthony John Stolban, 40, was riding an unlicensed dirt bike through a park on North Road when he collided with a police car that was following him, with the impact causing him to fall into a pond. While in the pond, Stolban tried to sink a bag he had with him. When police retrieved it, they found several clip seal bags inside with traces of methamphetamine and one containing 0.1g of the drug. Stolban appeared in Albany Magistrates Court for sentencing on December 1, after being convicted on July 14 of having no authority to drive on a suspended licence, possessing methamphetamine and using an unlicensed vehicle on a road. Police prosecutor Sgt Peter Yuswak told the court the incident occurred on June 7. About 11am, police officers saw Stolban riding an unlicensed dirt bike west along Lockyer Avenue near North Road, and continue into a nearby park. The officers approached Stolban in their vehicle, which he collided with as he attempted to flee, causing him to fall into the pond. Sgt Yuswak said while police found meth in one bag, the others were not fully sealed and the drug was believed to have dissolved in the water. Stolban addressed Magistrate Kevin Tavener and said he understood he needed to “snap out of it”. “Obviously drugs have gotten me to where I am today and I don’t want to be that person anymore,” Stolban said. Mr Tavener fined Stolban a total of $1700. He was fined $200 for driving an unlicensed vehicle on a road, $500 for possessing methamphetamine, and $1000 for having no authority to drive. His licence was suspended for nine months. In 2012, Stolban was sentenced to three years in prison after detectives found 96g of high-purity methamphetamine, more than 100 ecstasy tablets, and 68g of cannabis in the car he was driving. At the time, the haul was estimated to have a street value of $1 million.