BIKER NEWS: This motorcycle club often appears in court -- but it's not what you think

BIKER NEWS -- ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —From the outside, they may look tough with their biker jackets, bandanas and patches. But Frank Montano says people would be dead wrong if they made that assumption.

He's president for the Rio Grande chapter of Guardian of the Children.

The motorcycle club is often in court but not for breaking the law.

This club is there with abused and neglected children, giving them the support they need to testify.

“I will guarantee you one thing, any child gets hurt, anybody who's hurt, we are the first ones there to pick them up and help them up,” said Montano.

But the guardians say deputies at the Bernalillo District Courthouse told them to turn their vests inside out or leave them at home.

Montano says wearing vests inside out is a sign of disrespect.

“It is frustrating because we are on the side of justice,” he said.

District court does not have a specific dress code. The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office says it's not aware of any specific policy against Montano's group, but judges can decide what clothing is allowed in their court room and what's not.

Those are orders BCSO deputies say they'd have to carry out.

Despite that, Montano says it won't stop the club from showing up in court to help the kids.

“If made us wear a pink shirt with purple shorts, we'll do that to protect the children. We absolutely will,” Montano said.

This article was first published on Nov 20, 2015

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