News Desk Updated 23 hrs ago In a high-profile Canadian biker case that highlights ongoing tensions between rival outlaw motorcycle clubs, Crown prosecutors are pushing for penitentiary sentences against members of the Hells Angels and their support club, the Red Devils, following a brazen assault and robbery at a Hamilton bar and grill. The incident took place on July 4, 2024, at Cadillac Jax on Main Street East. Around 7 p.m., 16 motorcycles pulled into a neighbouring convenience store parking lot. Many riders wore Hells Angels and Red Devils colours. A group of five men — later convicted — walked straight into the bar where Daniel Scherer, then around 66 and wearing a probationary Rock Machine Motorcycle Club vest, was on the patio with others. What followed was described in court as a “swarming” — a premeditated, unprovoked group attack akin to aggravated assault. Scherer was punched approximately 10 times, collapsed, and lay unconscious on the patio briefly before getting up unsteadily. Video evidence captured blood dripping from his forehead. His Rock Machine vest was stolen during the robbery. The entire episode, including a follow-up sweep of the bar by about 11 more bikers (mostly Red Devils), lasted less than three-and-a-half minutes. Wrenching on Your Own Ride? Check Out This Setup The CRAFTSMAN 230-Piece Mechanics Tool Set is a solid weekend warrior setup. The victims’ fear was palpable. Other club-affiliated individuals, including the then-president of the Rock Machine’s Guelph chapter, David Robson, quickly hid their vests. One man in a Vendettas vest did the same after the assault began. “We know they were scared,” assistant Crown attorney Sean Doherty told the court. During a sentencing hearing on June 19, 2026, for three of the convicted men — Joel Rollin, William Ashford-Smith, and Jason Hall — Doherty urged Ontario Court Justice Amanda Camara to treat the Hells Angels as a criminal organization, an aggravating factor that could add up to a year to each sentence. He referenced decades of Canadian case law establishing the Hells Angels as a criminal organization and urged the judge to rely on common knowledge: “Hells Angels have been found to be a criminal organization in Ontario for 20 years… everybody in the world knows it.” Doherty proposed sentences of 6 years for Rollin (who has a prior record including assault and extortion), 5.5 years for Ashford-Smith (also convicted of unauthorized possession of a prohibited device linked to a switchblade and ammunition), and 5 years for Hall if the criminal organization factor is accepted. Without it, the requests drop to 5, 4.5, and 4 years respectively. He also sought forfeiture of seized Hells Angels and Red Devils vests, arguing they were used in the offence and serve as tools of intimidation. The five convicted men are: Joel Rollin, 41, of Grimsby (Hells Angels) Trevor Pittman, 34, of Ancaster (Hells Angels) Daniel Fish, 36, of Brantford (Red Devils) William Ashford-Smith, 36, of Hamilton (Hells Angels) Jason Hall, 51, of York (Hells Angels) Tragically, Scherer, the victim and a probationary Rock Machine member, died on September 23, 2025, at age 67, before he could testify at trial. While a clear motive was never established in court, Doherty referenced the infamous and deadly Quebec biker war between the Hells Angels and Rock Machine in the 1990s-2000s as context for the deep-seated rivalry. Defence lawyers disputed the criminal organization designation and the aggravated assault characterization, with one claiming they were “blindsided” by the Crown’s submissions. The hearing for Rollin, Ashford-Smith, and Hall was adjourned to July 31, 2026, to allow more preparation time. The other two co-accused are scheduled to return later this month. Gear Pick: The Ultimate Portable Shop Box Stop wasting time digging through a messy tool bag. The GEARWRENCH 232-Piece Socket & Wrench Set This case underscores the persistent and often violent nature of outlaw motorcycle club rivalries in Canada. The Hells Angels, one of the most notorious 1%er clubs globally, and their puppet/support clubs like the Red Devils, frequently find themselves in conflict with groups such as the Rock Machine. The coordinated arrival of 16 bikes, the rapid swarming, and the theft of rival colours point to a show of dominance typical in these territorial disputes. For Hamilton residents, the incident brought outlaw biker activity directly into a public venue on a summer evening. Patrons on the patio reportedly froze in fear as the coloured riders approached. Such events fuel public concern about motorcycle club influence in communities and raise questions about how law enforcement and the courts address organized group violence. The Crown’s push to formally recognize the Hells Angels’ status as a criminal organization in sentencing — even without dedicated charges — could set a tone for future cases. If accepted by Justice Camara, it reinforces long-standing judicial precedents and sends a strong deterrent message to club members that wearing the patch and engaging in group assaults carries heavier consequences. As sentencing continues, this Hamilton bar assault remains a stark example of how quickly things can escalate when rival clubs cross paths. From the initial motorcycle convoy to the punches that left an older man bloodied and unconscious on the ground, the event captures the raw edge of 1%er culture that often clashes with civilian life and the rule of law. Ontario Provincial Police investigations, including a search of the Hells Angels Hamilton clubhouse, contributed to the convictions. The outcome of the ongoing sentencing phase will be closely watched by those following biker news across Canada, as it could influence how similar cases involving Hells Angels, Red Devils, Rock Machine, and other clubs are handled moving forward. The use of colours as intimidation, the swarming tactic against a lone prospect, and the rapid bar sweep all paint a picture of calculated intimidation rather than a spontaneous bar fight. With the victim no longer alive to share his side, the court relies heavily on video evidence and witness accounts that left little doubt about the group’s actions. This latest development in Hamilton biker justice adds to a long history of legal scrutiny for these clubs. Whether the judge accepts the criminal organization aggravating factor or not, the convicted men are facing significant prison time for their roles in the assault and robbery. It serves as another reminder that in the world of outlaw motorcycle clubs, public displays of power can lead to serious repercussions inside the justice system. The Biggest Release Of Raw Unfiltered Biker Music in a generation Hells Angels Red Devils Brawl With Rock Machine Rock Machine Violent Assault on Members Of Outlaws Deadly Lake of the Ozarks Shooting New Details Just Dropped Galloping Goose MC Members Involved In Lake of the Ozarks Shooting Pack of 20 Bikers Traps Car and Brutally Attacks Driver