Comanchero bikie Matthew Kokotis, 45, jailed over replica firearm offence

A notorious underworld figure who joined a new bikie gang while on bail has learnt his fate.

Comanchero bikie Matthew Kokotis, 45, will spend at least the next year and five months in jail for threatening a man and woman with a replica firearm in front of a young child.

The sentencing by District Court Judge Timothy Heffernan brings to an end a three year saga since Kokotis and his co-accused Stilianis Orfanidis were arrested for the offending.

Since his arrest Kokotis has served nine months in prison finishing off a non-parole period for a previous firearm offence, a further nine months for the new offending and more than a year on home detention bail.

Former Hells Angels member Matthew Kokotis joined the Comancheros while awaiting sentencing. Picture: Facebook

On Thursday, Judge Heffernan said the offending was towards the upper end of seriousness and that he considered Kokotis’ prospects of rehabilitation as poor.

Around 6.20pm on October 19, 2019, Kokotis and Orfanidis pulled up in front of a Reynella home, blocking off another car which had just pulled into the driveway.

Both men emerged armed with baseball bats and begun threatening a woman who was standing in front of the driver’s side door of the car.

Kokotis shouted “give me bag, give me f***ing bag”.

The man in the driver’s seat, a current member of the Hells Angels, refused to get out.

“I’ll just shoot you now,” Kokotis said, returning to his car and emerging wearing black gloves and holding a large replica hand gun.

The driver of the car had emerged and for 43 seconds Kokotis chased him around the vehicle, pointing the replica firearm at his head while the man ducked and wove.

Matthew Kokotis pictured pointing a firearm at a person after threatening him with a baseball bat. Picture: CCTV

Kokotis eventually got back in his car and Orfanidis drove away.

Seconds later the female victim removed a young child, her son, from the car and an unrelated child rode by on a bicycle.

The incident was filmed on a bystander’s phone, providing the only evidence of the crime as the two victims refused to co-operate with police.

During sentencing submissions police revealed that Kokotis, a former member of the Hells Angels, had joined the Comanchero motorcycle gang around September 2019.

Social media photos posted online show Kokotis dressed in Comanchero “soft colours” – non-official clothing of the club.

A prosecutor told the court a search of Kokotis’ house had turned up official colours and patches of the club.

Judge Heffernan said that while Kokotis’ membership of the club was not an aggravating feature or against the law, it indicated his prospects of rehabilitation were poor.

Judge Heffernan sentenced Kokotis to two years, five months and 17 days after taking into account the time he had spent already in custody.

He imposed a non-parole period of one year, five months and 7 days, approximately 60 per cent of the head sentence.