Timothy Ronald Simpson, a 48-year-old member of the Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang, allegedly stepped up to a carnival stall at a South Australian family festival, loaded an air rifle, and fired at plastic ducks to win a prize for his young daughter. That ordinary sideshow moment has left him facing criminal charges that carry a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison.
Simpson has not been sentenced to 15 years. That figure is the statutory maximum for one of the two charges if he is convicted. He remains in custody awaiting further court proceedings, and the allegations have not been tested at trial.
According to South Australia Police, Simpson attended the Willunga Almond Blossom Festival on July 26, 2026, and took part in a duck-shooting sideshow. Detectives from the Crime Gangs Task Force investigated after learning of the incident. Officers arrested the Port Willunga man in Adelaide on August 21 and charged him with breaching a firearms prohibition order and being unlawfully present at a shooting gallery. In a statement titled “Bikie attendance at local carnival, not all it’s quacked up to be,” police said the activity violated the order that barred him from acquiring, possessing, or using any firearm-related equipment.
“Bikies” in Australia refer to the members of outlawed motorcycle clubs, which are closely observed by the police in terms of possible connections with organized crimes. The firearm prohibition order is a specific type of prohibition which is often imposed on high-risk persons including individuals associated with any gang or those who have firearms criminal records in the past. The firearms prohibition order includes restrictions not to use any firearms, its parts, ammunition and to enter specific places. In South Australia, the air rifles utilized in shooting galleries at carnivals are considered firearms and include the rifle fixed or chained to the booth.
Footage obtained by 7NEWS reportedly shows Simpson loading and firing the rifle. He appeared via video link in Adelaide Magistrates Court on August 24 before Magistrate Ben Sale. Already held on a parole warrant and classified as a serious firearms offender, Simpson’s lawyer did not seek bail. The magistrate noted the unusual circumstances, observing that carnival setups usually feature a rifle “chained to something” and that the alleged breach “might not represent the most grave type of this offence.” Simpson remains in custody, with the matter expected to return in January 2027 unless resolved earlier.
The maximum penalties are clear under the Firearms Act 2015: up to 15 years’ imprisonment or a AU$75,000 fine for breaching the prohibition order, and up to 10 years or AU$50,000 for the shooting-gallery charge. Actual sentences, if any, would depend on the court’s findings, prior history, and circumstances.
The case has drawn attention precisely because of the contrast between a father at a country festival and the serious potential consequences attached to strict firearm rules designed for high-risk individuals. Supporters of the laws stress consistent enforcement against outlaw motorcycle gang members. Others question whether a controlled carnival game should trigger the same framework as more dangerous conduct. The charges remain allegations. What happens next will be decided in court.
