SAN DIEGO (AP) — Seventeen individuals pleaded not responsible Monday to varied costs involving an assault on three Black males by members of the Hells Angels biker gang in San Diego this 12 months, the San Diego County District Legal professional’s Workplace stated.
The victims, ages 19, 20 and 21, had been immediately chased and attacked in San Diego’s Ocean Seaside neighborhood on June 6, subjected to a racial epithet and advised they didn’t belong there, prosecutors stated in a information launch.
One escaped harm by working, one other was punched, kicked and knocked unconscious, and the third was stabbed within the chest by a Hells Angels chief after being overwhelmed by different bikers however survived, prosecutors stated.
On Sept. 13, a grand jury indicted 14 individuals for allegedly participating within the assault, together with an allegation that it was carried out in affiliation with a prison avenue gang. The grand jury included hate crime allegations in opposition to 11 of the defendants.
“The grand jury added three extra defendants as a result of the trio (allegedly) helped drive the stabber from the scene and again to the Hells Angels Clubhouse in El Cajon,” the DA’s workplace stated in its information launch.
Probably the most critical cost, tried homicide, was introduced in opposition to the alleged gang chief accused of the stabbing. The grand jury added three extra defendants on costs of being equipment after the actual fact for allegedly serving to to drive the chief away from the scene.
“In San Diego County, we can’t, and won’t tolerate violence and racism of any nature, a lot much less crimes like this hateful, vicious, and unprovoked assault,” District Legal professional Summer season Stephan stated in a press release.
All 17 defendants had been arrested on Sept. 21. They entered pleas Monday throughout their arraignments on an array of costs that carry potential sentences starting from three years to life in jail. Trial was set for Nov. 14.