Head of Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club one of 6 arrested after 6-month investigation.
The president of the Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club and two former members are facing drug and weapons charges following a six-month joint police investigation.
They were arrested Wednesday, along with three women, during simultaneous raids in Saint John, Kingston and Public Landing by members of the Fundy Integrated Intelligence Unit.
Drugs with a street value of more than $21,000, two firearms, and more than $4,000 in cash were among the items seized from the residences on Natures Way, Shampers Bluff Road and Route 102.
Brian Schofield, 44, of Route 102, whom police identify as the Bacchus club president, pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of methamphetamine and marijuana for the purpose of trafficking during a brief court appearance.
He pleaded not guilty to possession of Oxycodone for the purpose of trafficking, possession of a prohibited weapon (brass knuckles) and possession of the proceeds of crime.
Schofield, who is being represented by lawyer Rodney Macdonald, was released on house arrest and will return to court on Sept. 5 for sentencing on two charges and to set a trial date on the other three.
He has been ordered to have no contact with his co-accused.
2 former club members also charged
Ryan Wallace, 39, of Shampers Bluff Road, whom police identify as a former "full patch" member of the Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club, also appeared in provincial court on Thursday.
He is charged with:
Possession of Percocet for the purpose of trafficking.
Possession of two rifles knowing he was not the holder of a licence.
Possession of a firearm for a purpose dangerous to the public peace.
Possession of the proceeds of crime.
Wallace was remanded in custody and will appear in court on Aug. 19 for a bail hearing.
Lia Olde Damink, 28, also of Shampers Bluff Road, is facing the same four charges, as well as a sixth count of stealing metoclopramide HCl from the Saint John Regional Hospital.
She was released from custody and is scheduled to return to court on Sept. 5 to enter pleas.
Blaine Beddow, 39, of Natures Way, whom police describe as a former "striker" of the Saint John Bacchus Motorcycle Club, has been charged with production of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking, possession of marijuana and possession of the proceeds of crime.
He was remanded in custody and will also return to court on Aug. 19 for a bail hearing.
A 32-year-old woman from Saint John and a 42-year-old woman from Public Landing will appear in court at a later date to face drug-related charges.
The Fundy Integrated Intelligence Unit consists of members of the Saint John Police Force, RCMP, Rothesay Regional Police Force and Canada Border Services Agency.
Club moved last summer
The Bacchus Motorcycle Club moved out of its Saint John headquarters last summer, following an order from the Saint John Fire Department.
Saint John police obtained a "do not occupy" order from the fire marshal's office for the clubhouse, located at 58 Pitt St., in the city's south end.
The move came after the club's then-president, Matthew Thomas Foley, was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Michael Thomas Schimpf, 31.
Foley pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced last August to 10 years in prison.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/story/2013/08/15/nb-bacchus-president-saintjohn-charges.html