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Hells Angel appears in Darmouth court in wheelchair

A full-patch member of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang from Ontario was arraigned in Dartmouth provincial court Friday on five charges of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence.

Mark David Heickert, 48, of Orillia was arrested Wednesday in the Ontario city. He appeared in court there Thursday before RCMP transported him to Nova Scotia to face four counts of conspiracy to traffic cocaine and one of conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime.

Sheriff’s deputies escorted Heickert in and out of the Dartmouth courtroom in a wheelchair.

RCMP announced Thursday that two members of the outlaw biker gang, including a Nova Scotia man, had been charged after a nine-month police investigation.

Paul Francis Monahan, 61, of Ostrea Lake was also arrested Wednesday, when RCMP raided homes in Ostrea Lake and Orillia and the Hells Angels clubhouse in Musquodoboit Harbour.

Officers allegedly seized two kilograms of cocaine, a sawed-off shotgun, a large quantity of cash, outlaw motorcycle gang paraphernalia, multiple cellphones and electronics from the homes, and a small quantity of hash and marijuana, unidentified pills, outlaw motorcycle gang paraphernalia, cellphones, electronics and cash from the clubhouse.

RCMP said Monahan is a “hang-around” member of the New Brunswick Nomads Hells Angels chapter, while Heickert belongs to the Hells Angels chapter in Oshawa, Ont.

The investigation began in February and involved RCMP and other police forces in Nova Scotia and Ontario.

Monahan is charged with 15 counts of trafficking marijuana, four counts of conspiracy to traffic cocaine, one count of possession of proceeds of crime, one count of conspiracy to possess proceeds of crime, and one count of possession of methamphetamine for the purpose of trafficking.

Halifax lawyer Kevin Burke represented both men in court Friday.

Crown attorney Len MacKay reiterated that he was opposed to the men’s release and asked for time to prepare for a bail hearing.

Judge Flora Buchan remanded the pair until Nov. 15, when they plan to seek bail.