Judge denies Hells Angel’s request to change judges for sentencing
KELOWNA – Full patch Hells Angel Joseph Bruce Skreptak and alleged gang associate Cory Montemurro's application to have a different judge sentence them was denied in Kelowna Supreme Court Tuesday.
Two months ago, both men were found guilty of almost a dozen weapons charges after they were pulled over by police in November 2010 with a cache of weapons near Tappen, B.C.
The sentencing was scheduled to take place this week, however according to defence lawyer Dan Skogstad, Justice Geoff Barrow is too ill to continue. The man chosen to replace him is the same Justice who last year found Skreptak guilty of the aggravated assault of the father of a boy he says stole from him in 2010.
Defense lawyers Skogstad and Kelly Christiansen say Justice Allan Betton's expressed belief that Skreptak's assault was done as a full patch member of the Hells Angels will influence him towards harsher sentences for both Montemurro and Skreptak.
"If you were to hear this sentencing matter you would be hearing the same autobiographical matter, and reviewing letters of reference from the same individuals, upon which you had concerns they even knew who Mr. Skreptak was, and that you already found Mr. Skreptak himself unreliable," Christiansen said.
Justice Betton denied the application and sentencing is tentatively scheduled for Dec. 8.
Four of the 11 charges both men face carry a mandatory minimum sentence of three years each.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Adam Proskiw at aproskiw@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-0428. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
