B.C. court convicts alleged Hells Angel of extortion and theft over $5,000

NANAIMO, B.C. – An alleged full-patch member of the Hells Angels has been convicted in B.C. Supreme Court of extortion and theft over $5,000

Neil MacKenzie of B.C.’s Criminal Justice Branch says the case against Robert Widdifield went to trial in the fall and a decision was handed down in Nanaimo, B.C., on Tuesday.

He says Widdifield is expected to appear back in court on Jan. 12, 2015 to set a date for sentencing.

A B.C. Supreme Court judge had stayed the charges when it ruled in June 2013 that Widdifield’s charter rights were violated because the case took too long to get to trial.

The Crown appealed the decision and it was overturned by the court of appeal, which said the Crown was responsible for only part of the delay.

Widdifield was charged with extortion, theft and possession of stolen property in what the Crown said was an attempt to get someone to repay a claimed debt. (CKAY)