Trial of Hells Angel Robin Moulton will be held in Woodstock despite security concerns

The trial of aFredericton man identified by RCMP as afull-patch member of the Hells Angels will be held in Woodstock, N.B., in the same courthouse a judge had previously expressed security concerns about.

Robin Moulton, 48, is facing three cocaine trafficking-related charges and nine charges relating to firearms, namely a high-powered rifle with a silencer and a loaded 9-mm handgun, which he'd been banned from possessing for life.

He made a brief appearance inSaint John provincial court Thursdaywith co-accusedMarieAntonetteBugay, 40, of Fredericton.

Bugay,identified by police as one of Moulton's"known associates," is facing 10drug and weapons-related charges.

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Theybothelected to be tried by judge alone in the Court of Queen's Bench and waived their rightto a preliminary inquiry.

Defence counsel EmilyCochrane, acting on behalf of Moulton's defence lawyer T.J. Burke andBugay'sdefence lawyer GeorgeKalinowski, requested the trial be held in Woodstock, as that's where the majorityof the offences are alleged to have occurred.

Moulton's first court appearance after being arrested on Aug. 22 as part of a joint investigation into outlaw motorcycle gang activities in New Brunswick, was in Woodstock a town located about 100 kilometres west of Fredericton.

Provincial court Judge PierreDubhad set thematterover without pleas, but switched the venue toSaint John, citing security concerns.

Unlike theWoodstockcourthouse,the Saint John Law Courts building has underground access, so an accused doesn't have to walk outside from the sheriff's van to court.

There was no discussionduring Thursday's hearingabout how those concerns will be addressed during thepending trial, the date of whichwill be determined in April.

But Crown prosecutor Jillian Jordan, acting as agent for lead CrownNicole Angers, consented to the location.

Moulton nodded slowly at the news, thenstretched his neck from shoulder to shoulder, exposing hisdistinctive Hells Angel wing tattoo.

Bugay, who was standing in the prisoner's box with Moulton, withtwo sheriff's deputies between them, appeared to avoid making eye contact with him.

A handful of supporters in the courtroom showed no reaction.

Moulton and Bugay, who were previously denied bail,remain remanded.

They have both been in custody since August,when they were arrested separately.

Their pleas and elections had beendelayed several times, most recently on Dec. 19. Moulton's defence lawyer, T.J. Burke, had requested more time to review the file, which is about 600 pages, and Bugayhad just retained a new lawyer, the courtroom heard.

Moulton is charged with improperly storing a 9-mm handgun; possessing a restricted handgun without authorization; possessing a loaded, restricted firearm without a licence, and possessing a handgun while barred from doing so for life.

He is also charged with unsafe storage of a .308-calibre rifle; possession of a silencer for a dangerous purpose; possession of a silencer without authorization; possession of a firearm while barred for life, and possession of ammunition while barred from doing so for 10 years.

The three drug charges aretrafficking in cocaine,possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking, and possession of a press for use in trafficking. All of the offences are alleged to have occurred on or about Aug. 22, at or near Woodstock.

Bugayis charged jointly with Moulton on seven of the offences, plus on three of her own, which are alleged to have occurred in Fredericton.

Those chargesincludehaving possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a prohibited weapon, a Taser, on or about Aug. 24, and having possession on Aug. 29 of more than $5,000,knowing that all or part of it was obtained by the commission of an offence.

Moulton was arrested near Woodstock on Aug. 22 after being stopped while driving on the Trans-Canada Highway and charged after police executed search warrants at his Brunswick Street residenceand "several" other locations across the province.

He is a member of the Hells Angels MC,Nomads New Brunswick chapter, according to the RCMP.

The chapter, which was established in the province last fall, is made upof longstanding, elite Hells Angels members, police have said. The organization is calledNomads because, unlike traditional chapters, it doesn't have its own clubhouse.

Bugaywas arrested and released Aug. 24 after police searched a residence on Aberdeen Street in Fredericton, then re-arrested on Aug. 29.