Fierce allies

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WILLOW GROVE, Pa. -- Ron Miner stopped talking and stared at the defendant walking past him into the courtroom. He made sure the man, charged with sexually assaulting a 3-year-old girl, got a look at the patches on his denim vest: Bikers Against Child Abuse.

Longtime participants of toy runs and other charity fund-raisers, some bikers now take their motorcycles to the courtroom for a more personal stand against child abuse. They say their fierce reputation lends strength to victims and their families in court.

Mr. Miner had kind words and a hug for the girl's mother, getting ready to testify. "We're not here to threaten anybody. We're here to let you know that people do care," he told her.

Mr. Miner and four other members of the Bikers Against Child Abuse of Montgomery County Inc. attended a recent preliminary hearing in district court, all wearing patch-covered denim vests over their leather jackets. They make time during the week to come to court, they say, to fill a void for families in need.

"They need a bigger shoulder to lean on than they're getting from the public," said chapter President Keith "Orangeman" Dungan, of North Wales.

To the girl's mother, who didn't know the bikers were coming, Mr. Dungan offered his cell-phone number to call if she needed food, clothing or a contact with the county's social services.

Mr. Miner, known to fellow bikers as "Pinhead," got on his knees to talk to the girl; she hid her eyes under a hat.

The 40-member group, part of a Pennsylvania-based organization that promotes child abuse awareness and prevention, made their first court appearance in December 2001. The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office embraced their initiative.

Wendy Demchick-Alloy, chief of the office's sex crimes unit, said the bikers are "law-abiding, civilized, very well-intentioned."