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1 THE CANADIAN STATESMAN, JANUARY 3,2001 PAGE 3 Courtice man anxious to return to classroom The Satan's Choice Clubhouse in Oshawa. Provincial police say 150 Ontario gangs, including the Choice, have switched allegiance to the Hells Angels. Hell's Angels roll into Durham BY STEPHEN SHAW Staff Writer The Satan's Choice motorcycle motorcycle gang's 35-year biker reign in Oshawa has officially ended with the mass conversion of its members to the notorious Hells Angels. Provincial police say about 150 members of Ontario Ontario outlaw gangs, including including the Choice, ParaDice Riders, Lobos and Last Chance, switched allegiances allegiances to the Hells Angels at a "patch-over" ceremony Friday in Quebec. The conversions give the Hells Angels seven Ontario chapters - its first in the province - including one in Oshawa, the founding city of the Satan's Choice. The Hells Angels expansion expansion into Ontario, which police have predicted for years, is believed to have been triggered by the entry of the Texas-based Bandi- dôs, who recently formed an alliance with the Rock Machine. The Rock Machine, Machine, which now has three chapters in Ontario, is the Hells' chief rival in Quebec, where the two sides have waged a bloody turf battle in recent years. Durham Regional Police Superintendent of Crime Management Chuck Mercier Mercier compared the biker development development to a "corporate' takeover. "The larger corporation (the international Hells Angels) Angels) wants more of the market share," he said. The move into Ontario by the Bandidos and Hells Angels has forced smaller clubs, such as the Choice, with 96 members, to make tough "business decisions," he said. "They had to decide: Align themselves with the bigger clubs or be annihilated," annihilated," Supt. Mercier said. It's believed about 10 Oshawa Choice members, who received patches identifying identifying themselves as full- fledged Hells Angels members, members, will form the city's chapter.. Supt. Mercier said the new Hells Angels members are sponsoring "anywhere from two to a half-dozen prospects," known as probationary probationary members or "strikers." He said the Satan's Choice clubhouse on Ortono Road, near Bloor Street and Wilson Road,- and the ParaDice Riders- owned marina in Caesarea, in Scugog Township, is likely now ' "property of Hells Angels." The Choice logo, a grinning grinning devil's head, remained perched atop the non-de- script house yesterday. Police say they are prepared prepared to deal with an increase increase in organized criminal criminal activity. In anticipation of the new developments, a 44-member provincial squad, comprised of officers officers from 18 police forces, was created in 1998. F2 Durham has one officer assigned assigned to it, Supt. Mercier said. Police say the Hells Angels Angels have been visible in Durham for several years, forging ties with local bikers. bikers. "The Angels have been around in our region for years. Now we have a Hells Angels chapter. It's not alarming to us, we've been alarmed for years (about the possibility). We've always always been on the alert," Supt. Mercier said. "They have a notorious reputation of using intimidation intimidation tactics and violence to achieve • their criminal goals. They are more sophisticated," sophisticated," the ' officer said. He said the force plans to keep tabs on the gang in the "traditional ways" and will work with the provincial provincial unit. Ontario Provincial Po- . lice Staff Sergeant Don Bell, of the Provincial Special Special Squad, said he does not anticipate a repeat in Ontario Ontario of the violence in Quebec, where more thatiK ■:;1 OOjdeathS 'in the past sixjj - years-have been blamed on,' the war between the Hellsji Angels and the Rock Ma-'/ chine. He said the Hells Angels main business is drug trafficking, trafficking, ' but they are also traditionally linked to the exotic dance business, prostitution, prostitution, extortion and theft. "The Hells Angels have an interest in any place . where they can make money, and Oshawa is close to Hwy. 401, it's part of the Golden Horseshoe and part of a very lucrative market," said Staff Sgt. Bell. Police said Friday's patch-over will ultimately give the Hells Angels 10 chapters in Ontario, 181 worldwide. For the Choice, the change of allegiance marks the end of one of Ontario's oldest outlaw motorcycle gangs. The original chapter was founded in the mid 1960s by Oshawa native Bernie Guindon. Thirty years later, in 1995 Mr. Guindon, revered as a rebel leader by outlaw bikers and branded a crime kingpin by authorities, stepped down as Satan's Choice president. A year later a much-publicized "retirement party" was held in his honour, much to the skepticism of biker intelligence intelligence officers. Mr. Guindon could not be reached for comment. For her part, Mayor Nancy. Diamond said she isn't shaking in her boots by the arrival of Canada's most infamous motorcycle gangs in the motor city. "The Satan's Choice has been with us, unfortunately, for four decades. At least now, with all this publicity, gangs know they will be watched closely," she said. "W Teacher not guilty of sex assault Faxit BY STEPHEN SHAW StaffWritcr A Durham Region Catholic high school teacher found not guilty of sexually assaulting a former student hopes to leam today whether he'll be returned to the classroom. classroom. "I love my job, it's a passion. passion. I'm not ready to give up teaching," Michael Thomas O'Reilly, 38, of Courtice, said in an interview in the wake of his recent acquittal. "Right now I'm just waiting waiting for word from the school board as to what they're going to do with me," he said. The teacher at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic School TrT Whitby was charged in November November 1999 after an 18- year-old woman complained to Durham Regional Police. The former student testified testified the father of three kissed and fondled her after showing up at her work place. During a two-day trial in the Ontario Court of Justice in Oshawa, Mr. O'Reilly admitted admitted he visited the teenager but denied the sexual allegations. allegations. He told the court he left after the complainant made sexual advances toward him. In his Dec. 14 ruling, Mr. Justice Ray Taillon said the defendant. and complainant both came across in court as credible, witnesses, prosecutor prosecutor Greg O'Driscoll said. . He said the judge acquitted acquitted Mr. O'Reilly based on a reasonable doubt raised by the conflicting testimony. Mr. O'Reilly worked for the Durham Catholic District School Board for eight years 'and" taught History and Man and. Society at the Dryden Boulevard school. He said he was reassigned to "clerical work" after his arrest arrest and has been home on sick leave since September. After being cleared of the charge, Mr. O'Reilly says he is now anxious to get back to teaching. "I told them that I hoped to be returned to my classroom after an acquittal. They told me that wouldn't be the case and that they'd be reviewing what they've collected collected from their own investigation," investigation," Mr. O'Reilly said. Grant Andrews, superintendant superintendant of education, said yesterday the board is obliged to review the court decision as part of its internal investigation, investigation, and that no decision had been made on Mr. O'Reilly's future. Mr. O'Reilly was to meet with board officials today at which time he hoped his status status would be cleared up. An investigation was also commenced previously by the Ontario College of Teachers, Teachers, at the board's request, but a spokesman refused to comment comment on the probe. Mr. O'Reilly said the case has been "devastating," creating creating a huge emotional and financial financial strain on his family. He said his 15-year marriage did not survive. "It's destroyed my reputation... reputation... And it pretty much ruined ruined my financially. It's been extremely difficult." to us: Stic Canadian Statesman Claringtor This Week 623-6161 62 King St. W., Bowmanville, Ontario L1C3K9 The Community with Future CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON PUBLIC NOTICE Email it ®tje Canadian Statesman Clarington This Week judi.bobbitt@durhamnews.net MAYOR'S LEVEE Everyone is cordially invited to join Mayor Mutton and Members of Council at the Mayor's Levee to be held on Sunday, January 7, 2001 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Municipal Administrative Centre, 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville. Patti L. Barrie, A.M.C.T. Municipal Clerk Municipality of Clarington 40Temperance Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C3A6 5 i bJ 1 FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION VISIT US AT gmcanada.com DROP BY YOUR LOCAL DEALER, OR CALL US AT 1-800-GM-DRIVE. 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