Former B.C. Hells Angels sent back to prison, then released despite Corrections concerns
A former Hells Angel who killed a Kelowna grandfather has had his statutory release reinstated despite concerns about his behaviour
Kim Bolan Vancouver Sun (British Columbia, Canada) May 13, 2024
https://vancouversun.com/news/crime/former-bc-hells-angels-sent-back-to-prison-then-released-despite-corrections-concerns
A former Hells Angel convicted of beating a Kelowna grandfather to death should be released from prison despite concerns of Correctional Service Canada staff about his earlier behaviour in the community.
Robert Leonard Thomas, 59, had his statutory release suspended last fall after becoming “unreasonable, difficult, and rude” with his halfway house staff and his parole officer, according to Parole Board of Canada member Carol-Ann Reynen.
But on May 2, Reynen decided Thomas could be released again, as long as he remained in a community residential facility with special conditions.
Thomas and fellow Hells Angel Norman Cox pleaded guilty to manslaughter in January of 2014 for a roadside hammer and baseball bat beating that killed Kelowna resident Dain Phillips. Phillips, who was unarmed, had been trying to resolve a dispute between his sons and associates of the two bikers when they attacked.
Thomas was sentenced to just over 11 years in prison. Reynen doesn’t mention the notorious biker gang by name in her nine-page ruling, but says Thomas was “introduced to members of an internationally known criminal organization through your work as a tattoo artist, and you eventually became a full member of the crime group.”
“Your file indicates that your loyalty to the members of this group was the reason you were involved in the index offence, as the victim was not previously known to you.”
Thomas got statutory release in June 2021 after serving two-thirds of his sentence.
His problem behaviour began last July after his bicycle was stolen from the residential facility and he grew worried the same would happen to his motorcycle. In October, 2023, he reported that he had been visited by Hells Angels members and told to leave town.
He asked to be transferred to another facility.
“In a meeting where this was discussed in November 2023, you became rude, belligerent, and yelled profanities” at the parole officer and halfway house staff, Reynen said.
Thomas also admitted to smoking cannabis in violation of the facility’s rules and was transferred to a new halfway house where his attitude continued to be poor.
He refused to show his parole officer “various threatening text messages that you claimed you had been sent. You minimized your involvement in the index offence and suggested that your actions were self-defence,” Reynen noted.
Thomas was sent back to prison later in November. On Feb. 13, he was assaulted by three other prisoners in his cell and taken to hospital.
“Following your return to the institution, you appeared mocking, sarcastic, and refused to answer questions pertaining to the assault,” the ruling said. “Following a successful mediation between you and the primary aggressor, you informed staff that you were going to refuse to leave your cell until you either obtained a transfer to another institution or were released back into the community.”
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