Hells Angel president sentenced to 32 months for possessing weapon

OFF THE WIRE
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Source: Ventura County Star

The president of the Ventura chapter of the Hells Angels has been sentenced to state prison for illegally possessing a firearm, the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office announced this week.

Sabian Reynoso, 34, of Oak View was sentenced to 32 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm, prosecutors said. Reynoso pleaded guilty in July to the charge, which stemmed from the discovery of a shotgun in his closet in 2008, prosecutors said.

Deputies with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Gang Unit found the gun while serving a search warrant for evidence relating to an alleged illegal visit by Reynoso to the Ventura County Jail to put money into the inmate account of a fellow Hells Angel. Under California law, it is a crime for felons who have been to prison to enter jail grounds without express permission. Reynoso served time in prison after a 2000 conviction for assault with a deadly weapon, prosecutors said.

Reynoso was charged with entering the jail grounds, but that charge was dismissed after he pleaded guilty to the more serious gun charge, said Senior Deputy District Attorney Derek Malan.

Former Hells Angels leader George Christie alleged the jail entry charge was an excuse for authorities to get into Reynoso’s home, saying “the community could be better served by not wasting money on chasing us around the neighborhood all the time.” Malan said prosecutors were confident they would have prevailed on the charge had it gone to trial.

Reynoso’s attorney, Moriya Christie, said her client was considering whether to appeal the denial of a motion to quash the search warrant. She said she was pleased her client was given the minimum possible prison time under sentencing guidelines in the case, however.
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