Kristofer Haken, of Londonderry was sentenced in Hillsborough County Superior Court to a 10 to 20 year sentence for shooting a Manchester teen in the hand outside of a pizza restaurant last April.
NASHUA — A Londonderry man who was a prospect with the Outlaws motorcycle gang was sentenced 10 to 20 years in state prison on Wednesday for shooting a teenage bystander with a .20-gauge shotgun outside of Luigi’s Pizza Bar & Grille in Manchester, prosecutors said.
Kristofer Haken, 32, of 5 Oak Drive pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and reckless conduct as part of a plea deal with state prosecutors.
Haken shot Jarred Pellerin, 18, a high school senior who came to the Valley Street restaurant to pick up a pizza and tried to flee from a massive fight between members of the Outlaws and the Hells Angels motorcycle gangs.
A small group from the rival gangs had exchanged words inside the restaurant about who could show their colors there, according to Assistant County Attorney Ken Perkes.
“Both groups got on the phone and called for backup,” Perkes said. “In minutes, dozens of others came.”
Pellerin tried to escape from the fight but his hand was sprayed with pellets from a .20-gauge shotgun last April 16 fired by Haken, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors argued that Haken’s sentence should send a strong message to outlaw motorcycle gangs who want to fight in Manchester.
“We, nor the courts or the city, are going to take gang violence lightly,” Perkes said, reiterating statements that Manchester police Chief David Mara made at the close of Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.
Defense attorney Phil Utter argued Haken should only spend 3 years in state prison.
Haken suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the U.S. Army with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to prosecutors. Haken was eventually discharged, Perkes said.
Utter called a psychiatrist from Harvard College to testify about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Haken himself expressed remorse about the shooting, but in the end Judge Gillian Abrhamson agreed with the state’s recommended sentence of 10 to 20 years.
About 2 ½ years of Haken’s minimum sentence could be reduced if he adheres to getting treatment for his disorder along with other programs ordered by corrections officials, Perkes said.
Perkes credited Manchester police Detective Peter Marr, the lead detective in the case, for his diligent work in a case where few people wanted to speak.
“Nobody wanted to testify because it involved the Hells Angels and Outlaws,” Perkes said.
Haken was among seven other motorcycle gang members who were indicted in the case. At least two more cases are still pending in Hillsborough County Superior Court.
Kristofer Haken, 32, of 5 Oak Drive pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and reckless conduct as part of a plea deal with state prosecutors.
Haken shot Jarred Pellerin, 18, a high school senior who came to the Valley Street restaurant to pick up a pizza and tried to flee from a massive fight between members of the Outlaws and the Hells Angels motorcycle gangs.
A small group from the rival gangs had exchanged words inside the restaurant about who could show their colors there, according to Assistant County Attorney Ken Perkes.
“Both groups got on the phone and called for backup,” Perkes said. “In minutes, dozens of others came.”
Pellerin tried to escape from the fight but his hand was sprayed with pellets from a .20-gauge shotgun last April 16 fired by Haken, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors argued that Haken’s sentence should send a strong message to outlaw motorcycle gangs who want to fight in Manchester.
“We, nor the courts or the city, are going to take gang violence lightly,” Perkes said, reiterating statements that Manchester police Chief David Mara made at the close of Wednesday’s sentencing hearing.
Defense attorney Phil Utter argued Haken should only spend 3 years in state prison.
Haken suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder after serving in the U.S. Army with tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to prosecutors. Haken was eventually discharged, Perkes said.
Utter called a psychiatrist from Harvard College to testify about the effects of post-traumatic stress disorder.
Haken himself expressed remorse about the shooting, but in the end Judge Gillian Abrhamson agreed with the state’s recommended sentence of 10 to 20 years.
About 2 ½ years of Haken’s minimum sentence could be reduced if he adheres to getting treatment for his disorder along with other programs ordered by corrections officials, Perkes said.
Perkes credited Manchester police Detective Peter Marr, the lead detective in the case, for his diligent work in a case where few people wanted to speak.
“Nobody wanted to testify because it involved the Hells Angels and Outlaws,” Perkes said.
Haken was among seven other motorcycle gang members who were indicted in the case. At least two more cases are still pending in Hillsborough County Superior Court.
