Bikers Against Child Abuse
Bikers Against Child Abuse or is a charitable worldwide motorcycle organization which is built from both the 1%er and the legitimate biker community. Their intended purpose is to empower abused children but the group has been said to indirectly support the outlaw motorcycle gang image.
Baca was founded in 1995 in Provo, Utah by B John Paul “Chief” Lilly. The organization states that it "exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children". Lilly stated, “My goal is to make it so there’s a BACA chapter in every neighborhood.””
Activities
The parents or guardians of victims of abuse are the ones who first contact BACA.The club then confirms that the authorities have been contacted before meeting with the family in order to see what the situation is and if it is something they can get involved with. They do not get involved in domestic issues.
Referrals from outside established agencies are reviewed by the system before the BACA responds with any type of contact.
The group claims that it asks child to adopt them, aiming to develop an extended 'family' with the child.
After contact is established, two bikers — one male, and one female — who may or may not live near to the child, act as primary contacts for the child and their family. The two bikers then visit the family in the two months after first contact on an ongoing basis and notify the BACA child liaison of any specific needs the child might have. The members may also attend court proceedings for the children or escort them to school or errands.
BACA claims Child Protective Services, therapists, clergy, and other organizations may contact BACA if they know of a child who could use BACA’s support. BACA members may only escort children to court only if the judge permits it.
According to the organization, the members can help the child's legal guardians to navigate the child-welfare system and how to file different legal documents such as restraining orders and guardianship documents.
A statement given by North Wasatch chapter security officer Ish, describes in short, their process. “B.A.C.A. is kind of like barbed wire, Stay the away from us, stay the away from our kids, you’ll probably be OK. You get too close, you’re gonna get tore the up.”
Each year, some BACA Chapters hold balloon release events for Child Abuse Awareness Month.
Jan Broberg appearance
Actress Jan Broberg Felt who was kidnapped twice as a child by Robert Ersol Berchtold and who is the topic of the Netflix film Abducted in Plain Sight, was at a speaking engagement with her mother at the Dixie State College in St. George, Utah for the annual Women's Conference. Fifteen members of BACA escorted Broberg and offered their services as security after Berchtold made threats if she insisted on speaking about her tell all book, “Stolen Innocence: The Jan Broberg Story.”That morning around 10:30, Berchtold drove up to the conference and asked BACA member Les Watson to hand out some literature. After Watson refused and told other BACA members to call the police, Berchtold revved his engine and drove into Watson. Upon being struck, Watson clung to the van's hood for about 100 feet, until Berchtold brandished a gun at which point he jumped off. Watson subsequently suffered back and leg injuries.
A witness was able to provide the van's license plate number.
Berchtold was initially released on $970 bail, but it was then increased to $19,250 after he was charged.
Program evaluation
The only study of the BACA program conducted was self published by one of the group's founders, Lilly and at least one other confirmed member of the group, Dee C Ray. Lilly, claims he has support from the four largest biker gangs in the United States, the Bandidos, the Hells Angels, the Pagans and the Outlaws. Staten Island Pesident Popeye made references to the study in 2016, well before its publication, calling it a preliminary study from 2014.The BACA study states, “Although we are cautious in interpreting causation due to nature of single group design, it is evident that child emotional and behavioral improvement occurred during the time that children were involved in BACA intervention. However, it should be noted, improvement also correlated with children’s temporal distance from the crisis situation.”
Complaints
In January 2004 a group of BACA members were removed from a Frontier Airlines aircraft preparing to leave for Denver when a member, Darrell Sparti, approached a parent who had spanked his child on the flight and told the parent to stop. An argument ensued, whereupon Frontier staff asked both the family and the BACA members to leave the plane, citing concern for "the safety of the passengers."On April 10, 2004, several members of BACA arrived at victims home upon the request of the child's mother. The child's abuser lived next door and it was stated that BACA members revved their engines and pointed at the perpetrator's house, the article states most of the BACA members did not know the perpetrator lived next door. The police were called and roughly 20 officers showed up. This incident escalated with accusations that the Payson police would start following them any time they would be seen driving around town.
In a June 2004 article, a former member stated that some BACA members had a tendency to take the law into their own hands. In 2016, New Zealand Police voiced concerns when BACA opened their Auckland Chapter. At the time, Auckland BACA Secretary Anne Murphy stated, "We do not use violence or intimidation.”
Security Officer Coach stated that in some instances, judges will require BACA members to remove their “cuts” in the courtroom or limit their numbers.
Membership
BACA claims to include individuals from all walks of life such as doctors, lawyers, mechanics, school principals, social workers, teachers and truck drivers; however, since BACA uses aliases this has not been publicly demonstrated.Each member undergoes 40–50 hours of training to better help support victims.
Those wishing to be involved with BACA must first be a supporter in good standing for a minimum of 1 year. Before becoming a supporter a person must be at least 18 years of age, be fingerprinted and have an extensive background check performed according to federal and local laws and customs and must own or have access to a motorcycle. Disqualifying events include convictions for domestic violence and child abuse.
Structure
BACA utilizes a similar hierarchy that outlaw motorcycle clubs have such as, President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant at Arms.BACA is a U.S. Registered non-profit, 501 tax exempt organization as designated by the Internal Revenue Service.
Disgraced former members
On March 18, 2009, the Cyber Crime Unit of the Texas Attorney General's office announced that David Wayne Garvey, a member of BACA in Houston, had been arrested for possession of child pornography. Upon being notified of his arrest, the Houston chapter revoked Garvey's membership. Garvey was sentenced on March 29, 2011, to 20 years on four counts of “Possession with intent promote child pornography”, Texas Penal Code 43.26.Two members of the Sam Bass chapter of BACA in Round Rock, Texas, Daniel Rodriguez and his wife Shirley Ann Rodriguez, were arrested on July 18, 2018, for 23 counts of abusing foster children in their care, including indecency with a child and injury to a child. The Sam Bass chapter revoked the memberships for both Daniel and Shirley Ann Rodriguez upon learning of the arrests.
Oklahoma BACA member Richard David West, 41, was arrested July 10, 2019 and charged with Lewd of Indecent Acts or Proposals to a Child Under 16. Pottawatomie County District Attorney Allan Grubb said he became aware of the crimes through one of his investigators. Grubb stated “That's where she met this man, who was introduced to her as someone she could trust. He came as a position of protection for her. Then he ended up becoming her abuser.” West was found to have photos and videos of the 15 year old victim who was introduced to him when she was 12 years old through the BACA referral.