Local News

Your guide to the latest news from around the Northwest

A Kirkland man with ties to the Banditos motorcycle gang has been charged with attempting to extort payments from someone he loaned $35,000 to start a business, according to King County prosecutors.

Robert Dariold Golden, 39, and another man, Robert Amahd Edwards II, were charged last week with the felony.

The victim, who owns a custom fishing-rod shop in Redmond, said that Golden lent him the money about three years ago with few repayment terms.  Last month, Golden started demanding money, plus interest, from the victim, telling the man that the debt had been sold to the Banditos. Golden and Edwards reportedly showed up at the victim’s shop for payment and demanded that the man sign over titles to his truck, trailer, boat and motorcycles, according to the charges. The two men were arrested.

Golden has a lengthy criminal history including 23 arrests, 18 outstanding arrest warrants and convictions for fourth-degree assault, drug possession, second-degree theft and violation of a domestic violence no-contact order. Golden is out of jail on $500,000 bail.

Edwards has no prior jail bookings. In charging documents, filed by Senior Deputy Prosecutor Susan Storey, it’s unclear what role Edwards played other than showing up at the shop with Golden.