(High Prairie) – A Slave Lake man will serve under three years in jail in connection with the deaths of two Redrum Motorcycle Club members in a collision on Highway 2 near Sucker Creek on Aug. 31, 2024.

Michael Maurice Koochin was handed a global sentence of 913 days for two counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and four counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing bodily harm in High Prairie Court of Justice on Aug. 25.

He was given credit for 338 days served in custody.

Justice C.A. Palmer agreed with the joint submission for sentencing from the Crown and lawyer Cristian Manucci.

“When we’re dealing with dangerous driving, it’s about the driving, not the consequences,” Palmer says.

“I am bound by the joint submission.

“I have to look at the facts before the court.”

Koochin crossed over the centre line and hit the motorcycles.

Crown prosecutor Sheila Joyce initially says the issue is about the driving, not the result.

She stated the sentence was for two-and-a-half years as she opened her presentation.

“It will be pale in comparison to the devastating loss in the crash,” Joyce says.

“It addresses the interest of both the public and the accused.”

She says no intent by the driver was present.

The police investigation reveals the motorcycle riders were travelling in one large group when an oncoming commercial semi-truck hauling rig waste to a landfill site crossed over the centre-line and struck the riders.

Koochin pleaded guilty to the six counts during a preliminary inquiry April 8 and re-entered guilty pleas July 30, the Crown says.

The Crown considered it an early guilty plea.

After he is released from jail, Koochin will be suspended from driving for seven years.

Redrum members Laurent Isadore, 38, of Driftpile Cree Nation, and Tyler Duboski, 33, of Edmonton, died on the scene in the morning crash while doing what they love to do the most – riding their motorcycles.

A third person in the crash died several months later.

Cody Clemente died Dec. 19, 2025 after suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome.

He suffered a head injury in the incident when another motorcycle ran over him.

They were on their way to a Redrum charity motorcycle ride when the incident occurred.

Faust RCMP responded to a report at 11:42 a.m. of a serious collision involving two motorcycles on Highway 2 near Range Rd. 143 near Sucker Creek.

An off-duty RCMP officer was already on scene assisting the injured as other emergency services personnel arrived.

Multiple riders were injured, two were deceased.

At least six additional motorcyclists with various levels of injuries were taken to hospital.

Koochin regrets his actions that day, his lawyer says.

“He is truly remorseful for his actions,” Manucci says.

“He expresses deep remorse

“It was a brief moment of inattention.

“It was a momentary lapse that changed the lives of many people.

“He feels terrible for the families.”

Koochin did not address the court.

Patsy Campion, a sister of Isadore, was very upset with the sentence and the Crown.

“Where was the Crown today?” says Campion, who offered comments to South Peace News after sentencing.

“She defended the driver.

“She made excuses for his driving.”

Kooshin was also fined $3,000 for driving a vehicle without insurance, $486 for a commercial truck driver failing to maintain a daily log and $324 for operating a commercial vehicle not inspected daily after he pleaded guilty.

Palmer ordered Koochin to pay the fines by June 30, 2028.

Koochin was also ordered to pay restitution of $20,952.61 for damages to a motorcycle.

“This has been a tragic weekend for the club,” Redrum posted on Facebook on Sept. 2, 2024 after the incident.

Family members and friends paid tribute to the victims in court July 30 when nearly 30 people submitted or appeared in person to give heartfelt victim impact statements in front of Justice C.A. Palmer.

Koochin’s tractor-trailer was not road-worthy at the time of the crash.

He was arrested Jan. 9, 2025 and was charged with 26 counts.

Included was the fact that his vehicle insurance had expired due to non-payment of fees.

The most serious charges included two counts of criminal negligence, causing death without a firearm.

Koochin was also charged with six count of criminal negligence causing bodily harm in connection with the six other injured riders and six counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing bodily harm.

He was also charged with possession of methamphetamine, failing to prepare a trip inspection report in a legible format, failing to maintain an accurate daily log in duplicate, operating a commercial vehicle not complying with the standards as specified by Section 10 (N) (II) Schedule 2 of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation, operating a commercial vehicle not complying with the standards as specified in Section 14 (A) (III) Schedule 2 of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation, operating a commercial vehicle not inspected under daily trip inspection requirements and with a major defect, failing to operate a commercial vehicle as specified, operating a commercial vehicle not complying with the standards as specified in Section 16 (2) (A) Schedule 2 of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation – vehicle not equipped with a brake system acting on all wheels, operating a commercial vehicle that was not insured and operating a motor vehicle not complying with the standard of Section 11 (A) Schedule 2 of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Regulation.