Lynton Gene Treasure: Man who wielded star picket in carpark and threatened to kill woman in shop denied bail

A Katanning man who allegedly threatened to kill a newsagency staff member if she did not “kneel and behave” after waving a star picket around in a carpark, has been denied bail. Lynton Gene Treasure, 48, appeared in police custody at Albany Magistrates Court on Monday, charged with being armed in a way that may cause fear, threatening to kill and disorderly behaviour in public. Mr Treasure indicated a plea of guilty to the three offences that allegedly occurred on Sunday morning. The accused was allegedly in the carpark of Kowald’s News and Glasshouse at 7.50am when he was seen brandishing a 1.8m long star picket and shouting to himself as he adopted various fighting stances, police prosecutor Sgt Dylan Fisher told the court. Mr Treasure then allegedly entered the newsagency where he began verbally abusing a female staff member, shouting that she should “kneel and behave or I will end your life”. The accused allegedly left the store and was arrested by police in the carpark, where he continued to shout and yell to himself and at police, arguing that it was them instead who were under arrest and that they were making an assault against the “rightful king”. A search of his person allegedly revealed a lawn mower blade in his backpack. Defence lawyer Lillie Carney applied for bail on Mr Treasure’s behalf, suggesting protective conditions for the victim, a curfew and his own remorse for the incident. Sgt Fisher opposed bail, stating the accused’s “deliberately intimidatory” and drug-affected manner would have been “terrifying” for the public and noted the high potential for danger the incident posed. Magistrate Tanya Watt denied Mr Treasure’s bail on account of the seriousness of the charges and his record of violence and breaching orders. He will next appear in Katanning Magistrates Court for sentencing on August 19.