A MAN has faced court on firearms offences after police tracked him down using a Facebook photo of him holding two shotguns with the caption "running from police thats [sic] right".
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Thomas Dowell, 24, of Cootamundra appeared in Wagga Local Court on Monday when he pleaded guilty to one count each of possessing an unauthorised firearm, possessing an unauthorised prohibited firearm and larceny.
Court documents state that Dowell, who has never had a firearms licence, had the photo taken when he stayed overnight in a room at Charles Sturt Suites, Wagga, in December last year.
He also stole $1295 worth of items from the room, including two televisions, two fry pans and the content of the mini bar.
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About 12.30am on December 23, CCTV footage showed Dowell, who has distinctive tattoos, carrying the guns wrapped in clothing into his hotel room.
Later that day, Dowell and a number of other men were captured on CCTV carrying the items from the room to a parked vehicle before they left.
"Again, Dowell is clearly identifiable by his tattoos," court documents state.
After police tracked down his Facebook profile showing the photo, they spoke with the hotel's management, who confirmed that the photo was taken in the room Dowell stayed in.
The hotel manager is seeking $1295 in compensation.
Dowell is set to front Wagga court again in September for sentencing.
