Biker for Christ remembered at church where hit-and-run killed him:Hells Angels ‘had an affair with a married female prison officer whose husband also worked at the jail’

SENECA, S.C. —

A man who became a Christian two years ago and a member of Bikers for Christ was remembered in a vigil Friday night at his church, where a hit-and-run driver took his life earlier this week.

Larry Starnes, 68, was turning into Grace Baptist Church in Seneca at about 11 a.m. Thursday when a red pickup truck struck his motorcycle from behind. The pickup truck left the scene, leaving Starnes in the roadway.

He died at the hospital during surgery, the coroner said.

The pastor of Grace Baptist said he met Starnes two years, adding that Starnes had given his life to Christ and joined the biker ministry.

Friends and church officials gathered for a candlelight vigil at Grace Baptist on Wells Highway in Seneca.

“Let’s all remember him as the smiling, chuckling friend he is,” Shawn Dobbs posted. “He recently went through open heart surgery and all he could talk about was getting well so he could get back on that bike.

“See ya, brother. Love you more than you’ll ever know.”

Troopers look for hit-and run driver

Meanwhile, the Highway Patrol is continuing to look for the driver of the truck that hit Starnes, Trooper Joe Hovis said.

Hovis said the suspected vehicle is a red older model Ford pickup truck.

Troopers also released a picture of the man who they say was driving the truck.

There could be possible damage to the front and undercarriage of the vehicle, troopers said.

According to the Iron Horse Motorcycle Lawyers Facebook page, a $2,000 reward is being offered for more information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case.

If you have any information about the driver or vehicle, you are asked to contact the South Carolina Highway Patrol at 864-241-1000 or Crime Stoppers at 1-888-CRIME-SC.

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LaSalle News Tribune

Motorcycle club wants clubhouse in Peru
A motorcycle club, Brothers of Darkness, asked for special use of 1024 Center St. for a clubhouse, and the matter was sent to the Planning/Zoning Commission.
“What is the special use?” asked alderman Dave Potthoff.
Corporate counsel Doug Schweickert said the group specifically wants a manufacturing zone to allow for motorcycle clubs.
“On behalf of the police department, I’ll be there to raise objections,” said Peru police chief Doug Bernabei.
Mayor Scott Harl asked if the city had to grant Brothers of Darkness a hearing.
Schweickers said “yes.”
The request is on the agenda for the zoning commission at 6 p.m. Aug. 1, according to an agenda on the city website.
“Primarily I’m concerned about ingress and egress where it’s located, there’s only one way in and one way out,” Bernabei said this morning. “From a public safety standpoint I’m really concerned about the location.”

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Hells Angels bikie exposed for having alleged relationship with a prison guard
Gang member Christian Manu Birch was jailed at Mannus Correctional Centre
Birch allegedly groomed married prison guard Linda Russell (nee Abbott)
The alleged guard-inmate relationship is just the latest to be exposed this week

A Hells Angels bikie is the latest criminal exposed for having an alleged relationship with a female prison officer behind bars.

Gang member Christian Manu Birch was jailed at Mannus Correctional Centre in February 2011, where he met and allegedly groomed married prison officer Linda Russell.

Birch, a member of the Sydney chapter City Crew, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years for supplying a commercial amount of the party drug GHB.

Ms Russell allegedly had a sexual affair with Birch while he was imprisoned at Mannus Correctional Centre, a minimum security men’s prison on the border of New South Wales and Victoria.

Ms Russell’s husband reportedly also worked at the jail while the relationship was playing out.

An inside source revealed details of the sordid affair, saying people soon grew suspicious of their close relationship.

‘Birch groomed Linda telling her she looked pretty and enjoyed their monthly catch-ups,’ they told The Daily Telegraph.

‘It happened easily because Mannus is an open, minimum-security facility with lower staffing levels.’

When Birch was transferred to a different prison, Ms Russell quit her job soon after.

A Corrective Services spokeswoman said there was an internal investigation into an alleged relationship between an inmate and former prison guard at the Mannus Correctional Centre.

The revelation comes after Kempsey prison guard Amy Connors was exposed for having an alleged relationship with inmate Sione Pensisini, imprisoned for killing police officer Glenn McEnallay in 2002.

Under current laws it is not a criminal offence to have sex with a prisoner. It is considered a breach of the code of conduct.

Connors is expected to be formally charged with misconduct in public office for the alleged relationship.

Corrective Services Minister David Elliott is now considering tougher measures to stop prison guards and inmates entering into inappropriate relationships.

‘The terms of reference will include this relationship,’ Mr Elliott said