Bikie Lavi Junior Fono hung out with Rebels members at Golden Grove pub

A northeast church-going bikie met up with Rebels members at a Golden Grove pub simply by chance, a court has heard.

A court heard Lavi Junior Fono met with two Rebels members at the Village Tavern. Picture: Ben Cameron

A church-going bikie associated with Rebels members at a Golden Grove pub by chance, a court has heard.

Lavi Junior Fono appeared in the Elizabeth Magistrates Court by video link on Thursday afternoon charged with being present with two or more criminal organisation participants.

Fono met up with Shane Michael Steven Smith, 37, the former partner of Married At First Sight star Stacey Hampton, and a 33-year-old from Mawson Lakes, at the Village Tavern at Golden Grove on January 19, 2020.

Ms Hampton is not involved in these proceedings and has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

The court heard Fono attended the pub to watch a UFC fight featuring Conor McGregor and “happened to bump” into the other men.

Fono’s lawyer Andrew Ey said it was “no prearranged meeting” and there was “nothing wrong apart from the association”.

“They sat and drank for a number of hours together,” Mr Ey said.

“They were not causing any trouble.

“He was not there for any nefarious purpose.”

Lavi Junior Fono met with Shane Smith (left) the former partner of Married At First Sight personality Stacey Hampton (right), at the Village Tavern. Picture: Shane Smith Facebook

The court heard while serving almost six months in custody in 2017, the father of one was “introduced to members he should not associate with”.

“He then became a member of that club,” he said.

The court heard Fono moved to Australia as a three year old and completed schooling at Henderson Christian College in Mildura.

Mr Ey said his client had an “excellent employment record”, including as a forklift driver and now in the gyprocking industry, and had received a letter of support from his pastor.

“He has been employed all his adult life apart from some periods in custody,” he said.

The court heard Fono pleaded guilty on the eve of a trial when further information – a photo which showed the other two men were Rebels members and were “known to Fono” – “shifted the goalposts”.

He said Fono should receive home detention as it would be “nearly impossible to avoid” interacting with bikie members in jail.

“Away from those sorts of associates, back into the support of his parents, he can care for his son, and be a better version of himself which is a hardworking man with a good working history,” he said.

Magistrate Mark Semmens ordered a home detention report with Fono to reappear on March 22.

“You’re looking at a home detention sentence,” Mr Semmens said.