History does not teach fatalism. There are moments when the will of a handful of free men breaks through determinism and opens up new roads. ~Charles de Gaulle
ABATE of Florida gets interesting again
Received from Motorcycle Hall of Fame Member Rouge (a name and e-mail address has been replaced by (member) and/or (ABATE member) has been removed)From Biker Bits
It seems a member of ABATE member did not like a question I posted about where is the money being spent that Doc and ABATE reported getting from the State of Florida for Safety.
The story is good but the lead-in is BS. You could have made a call to the Prez of ABATE of Fla. and he could have told you what exactly is being done with the money. This is very sloppy and detrimental reporting on your part - putting out this sort of innuendo.
Of course in the normal fashion there was a lot of name calling BUT No Answer!
How much money has ABATE actually received? And how was that money actually spent. I as a ABATE member think that information should be made public to all members.
ROGUE
The Following is from Biker Bits
FLORIDA:
To ABATE of Florida members.... it seems that one sentence that prefaced a paragraph has one ABATE member up in arms!! And I am receiving nasty mail stating that I am putting out innuendo's!!
Until I get a full report from the President of Florida ABATE, I will continue to report what I am sent by worthy and well noted authorities in the motorcycling community!
Gypsy
In a message dated 3/26/2008 5:36:03 AM Eastern Daylight Time, (Abate member) writes:
I just spoke to Doc about a month ago and he mentioned all kinds of stuff they are doing with the money - billboards, sides of buses, etc. Doc has been getting awareness money from the state for several years. Do you think the state would be doing that if there was impropriety? Do you think Doc's enemies in the legislature would turn a blind eye? Gypsy, you and your source of information are really pieces of work!
Doc has always been straight up with me. Your source calls him liar but offers no specifics.
I have no idea what "Question" this guy is referring to that I supposedly did not answer - another person for whom English is a challenge! The blind lead the blind at Biker Bits.
Only blind person here is you~ Let DOC produce actual documents, and show exactly where he's spending money~! To say one is spending, and to actually do is another thing. The truth will be in the production of documentation!
Gypsy
In a message dated 3/25/2008 8:37:33 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rogue@bikerrogue.com writes:
I have been in touch with the president of ABATE of Florida on numerous occasions about this and have received all kinds of different answers But never a straight one.
I have questioned his statements on numerous occasions and found untruths on more than one occasion.
That is why I made the statement I did. I did notice that the (member) Did Not Answer My Question Either!!!
ROGUE
He's made it a point to blast me for the past four days about crap that doesn't even make sense!! I refuse to talk to him any further!
Gypsy
Rogue www.bikerrogue.com
Sturgis Freedom Fighters
Motorcycle Hall Of Fame Member 2005
These are questions that many Florida ABATE members have asked and Rouge is right. If you are an ABATE of Florida member then you have the right to know if you ask. In fact, as ABATE of Florida is a not for profit corporation that receives tax dollars to fight for your rights (????) then we all have a right to know, member or not!
Our note to Gypsy:
Rouge touches just the tip of the iceberg. Many in Florida have asked where do the checks for as much as $5000.00 that are handed to Doc in meetings (I have witnessed) to be used "at his discretion go"? Not to mention the other monies that he claims. Contempt prior to investigation buries the truth. You all do a great job. Keep it up. Some have had the courage to stand up and speak out and their names are in some of these posts. All to many have been afraid. http://pub42.bravenet.com James "Doc" Reichenbach II Tells The USDOT The Truth About The $500,000 The document that proves the lie http://dms.dot.gov/search These two links go to the same post. I am in possession of documents to prove this however a simple call to the Florida legislature, Office of legislative services can verify that Doc (ABATE of Florida President and lobbyist) was found to be in violation of Florida Financial disclosure laws for lobbyist. ABATE of Florida President and lobbyist and NCOM chairman, Violates State Financial Disclosure law http://www.bigbendbikersforfree http://www.bigbendbikersforfree A conversation I had with the safety office of the Florida department of transportation on 7-9-07 asking the same question, "where does the money go" I did not use the individuals name as he did not know I would be printing the info. So I only include this info as an illustration of the current situation in Florida Is it possible to get "screwed"by the Feds, State,.. It has been reported to me that Doc has stated in a state meeting that if he can't take care of me legally he would do so the "old way." Unfortunately I can not document that. rc
The strange history of HB137 (calling for seizure of motorcycles) and the ABATE of Florida lobbyists calls to stop contacting your legislators that the bill is dead???? The bill is still alive.
Bikers accuse feds of with holding evidence
Bikers accuse feds of not sharing evidence in S.D. gunfight By Carson Walker, The Associated Press Sunday, March 23, 2008 11 comment(s) Normal Size Increase font Size
Two Hells Angels bikers charged with starting a gunfight acted in self defense because rival Outlaws Motorcycle Club members targeted them, lawyers for the men say.
Related Articles Most Commented Drought forces state to suspend Cheyenne River irrigation Attorney general warns of electric bill scam Belle Fourche man gets max sentence for perjury Group hopes to refer eminent domain bill Rep. Haverly announces Senate run NAU replaces president, drops sports programs (162) Sturgis chamber sues Kentucky biker event (112) Congressional candidates denounce Obama's pastor (93) State A: Panthers upset No. 1 Crusaders (79) Anti-abortion group can use Rapid City school for event (77) Chad Wilson, 32, of Lynnwood, Wash., and John Midmore, 34, of Valparaiso, Ind., are accused of shooting at Outlaws bikers Aug. 8, 2006, at Legion Lake Resort in Custer State Park, where the Outlaws gathered for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally 70 miles away.
According to a federal court document, an Outlaws member who was not wounded said he returned fire at the man who shot at his group.
Wilson is a member of the Dago Chapter of the Hells Angels motorcycle club in San Diego and Midmore is a prospect of the Haney Chapter of the Hells Angels in British Columbia, Canada, according to court documents.
Both men are charged with multiple counts, including conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and commission of a felony while armed. Wilson also is charged with five counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The five Outlaws who were shot are Thomas Hass, Al Mathews, Danny Neace, Claudia Wables and Susan Evans-Martin. Another woman, Crystal Schuster, suffered injuries unrelated to a gunshot. Their addresses were not included in court documents.
Wilson and Midmore are being held without bond at the county jail in Rapid City. Their trial in Custer has been delayed several times, most recently because of an appeal to the state Supreme Court.
The men's federal court filing in Rapid City for an injunction and declaratory judgment is against 19 defendants, including various federal agencies, officials and the federal government.
Lawyers want a judge to prevent the defendants from withholding information that could help their case.
State prosecutors plan to argue that an ongoing feud between the two clubs was the motive for Wilson and Midmore to fire on the Outlaws, they wrote.
"Defendants believe that the converse is true. In fact, the acrimonious relationship led to the ambush of defendants and that these actions were in self defense," Hells Angels lawyers wrote in the court document.
As Wilson and Midmore tried to leave the resort, several Outlaws members attacked them, so they fled to save their lives, the document states.
They felt they were in danger because of information law officers told them before they came to the state stemming from past conflicts and the fact that all Outlaws members were required to attend the 2006 Sturgis rally, according to the court document.
Government surveillance and information from informants inside both organizations predicted the Outlaws planned attacks on Hells Angels at Cody, Wyo., in July 2006 and Sturgis in August 2006, but the government agencies and officials have repeatedly refused to turn over videos, photos and other such evidence, the Hells Angels lawyers wrote.
"The Outlaws surveillance information gathered with respect to Outlaws members and affiliates planned attacks against Hells Angels is relevant and necessary to show the motivation behind the Outlaws ambush of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Midmore and to prove that the Outlaws, not Mr. Wilson and Mr. Midmore, were the aggressors in the Legion Lake incident," the document states.
Hells Angels attorneys also argue that the indictments of several other Outlaws, including some who were shot at Custer, prove the organization was carrying out attacks on Hells Angels members and that information was gathered before the Custer shooting.
"I feel very strongly that without this information we would be denied due process and a right to confront and cross-examine under the Sixth Amendment," defense lawyer David Kenner of California told The Associated Press.
The U.S. attorney for South Dakota said he couldn't comment. Michael Moore of Huron, one of the state prosecutors handling the case, said that to his knowledge, the evidence the defendants seek doesn't exist.
"If it did exist and it was in our possession, we would turn it over. There's nothing like that that exists," he said.
The trial has not yet been rescheduled since the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled last month that Circuit Judge John Delaney Sr. violated procedural rules when he considered sealed documents and had closed meetings with defense lawyers.
After that decision, Custer County State's Attorney Tracy Kelley wrote a letter to Delaney urging him to recuse himself to avoid the appearance of impropriety.
Delaney reluctantly obliged, saying he felt he had treated both sides fairly, according to a March 9 letter.
"Although I enjoy being a judge and had looked forward to the trial of this case, the relationships have unfortunately deteriorated to the point where the sniping would become the issue and not the underlying case," he wrote.
Defense lawyers objected on grounds there was no legal reason for Delaney to take himself off the case.
But Circuit Judge Jeff Davis, the presiding judge, then filed an order disqualifying all judges in the Seventh Circuit, and Supreme Court Chief Justice David Gilbertson appointed retired Circuit Judge Gene Paul Kean of Sioux Falls.
No hearing dates have since been scheduled.
YO Judge, smart move. Get as far away from that case as you can!Add to Technorati Favorites
Cop Makes Pot bust due to smell coming from the house-
From the Tallahassee Democrat
A patrol officer following a strong odor of marijuana Tuesday night discovered a northwest Tallahassee home containing half a million dollars worth of drugs. Tallahassee Police Officer Josh Lowery, a former vice and narcotics investigator, noticed the smell about 10:30 p.m. while driving by the home at 1002 Volusia St., said police spokesman David McCranie. Lowery parked his patrol car, walked around until he found the home and got a search warrant.
Inside, police discovered 158 marijuana plants, 18 cloned marijuana plants, 4.2 pounds of harvested marijuana and 5 grams of crack cocaine, McCranie said.
Lee Ngoc Nguyen, 31, was arrested on charges of cultivation of marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, possession of more than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and maintaining a drug house, he said.
When asked what he was doing with so much marijuana, Nguyen said it was for his personal use, McCranie said.
DUDE, was ya tryin to smoke it all at once?Add to Technorati Favorites
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