Three N.S. bikers jailed
Sentenced for extortion, harassment
All he wanted was to start his own recreational motorcycle club with his buddies.
Instead, a Nova Scotia businessman wound up installing a panic alarm in his home, selling his Harley-Davidson and never riding again.
Three members of the province’s “dominant” motorcycle club — the Bacchus Motorcycle Club (BMC) — were sentenced this week to jail terms of 18 months to three years after being found guilty of extortion, harassment, intimidation and threatening behaviour against the man, capping off a case that, according to the judge, provided “insight into a sinister, and in my view criminal, reality in the motorcycling milieu in Nova Scotia, and the other three Atlantic provinces.”
The victim, a “simple motorcycle enthusiast” identified in court as “RM,” wanted in the spring of 2012 to start up his own full-fledged, three-piece patch motorcycle club. After doing research on the internet and talking with members of the motorcycle community, RM decided it was best to approach BMC — a club with a history of associating with the Hells Angels — to get their approval.
BMC representative Patrick James told RM he could neither start his own motorcycle club or an offshoot of an existing one.
“What you do is you start off with a one-piece patch. You’re a riding club. Then, maybe after a couple of years you gain respect in the area and people get to know you. Then we move you up, we give you permission to have possibly a two-piece patch,” he is said to have told RM.
“If it seems right that you want to have a threepiece patch, you come to us and we’ll decide if you have enough time in. … What you’re doing is disrespecting all these other clubs that have worked their way up.”
Thinking he was following James’ instructions, RM proceeded weeks later to start a Nova Scotia chapter of the Montreal-based Brotherhood Motorcycle Club after receiving approval from that club for his members to wear onepiece Brotherhood patches on the backs of their vests.
“Mr. James was furious” after seeing pictures on Facebook, according to court records. James showed up at RM’s workplace and demanded he immediately destroy all vests with Brotherhood patches.
“I’m giving you a get-outof-jail-free card here,” James is said to have told RM, according to records.
“Do you understand what I’m f---ing saying to you? … This is your only chance.”
James pointed at pictures of RM’s family and told him to “get this taken care of.”
WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS DISRESPECTING ALL THESE OTHER CLUBS ...
RM and the Brotherhood complied.
In September 2012, RM attended a “Bikers Down” charity event in Lower Sackville, N.S., and was confronted by two other members of BMC, Duayne Howe and David Pearce.
One witness told the court the conversation grew louder and that she overheard the words “disrespect,” “no forgiveness” and “don’t show your face at any other biker events.” RM was apologetic, saying things like, “I’m sorry man” and “I did not mean any disrespect.”
Following the incident, police had special patrols go by RM’s home. RM and his wife had a panic alarm installed in their house and never rode their motorcycles again, court heard. Instead, they sold them.
Lawyers for the convicted men said Thursday a notice of appeal has been filed.