Stockton, Ca - Jury convicts biker in slaying attempt

OFF THE WIRE
By Scott Smith


Record Staff Writer

January 13, 2011 12:00 AMSTOCKTON - The leader of the local Misfits Motorcycle Club chapter will likely spend the rest of his life in state prison after a jury Wednesday found him guilty in a string of charges, which include trying to murder a rival biker.



Jurors found that William Henry Anselmi, 62, of Manteca was the gunman who fired a military grade semi-automatic assault rifle on Jan. 28, 2009, into the Stockton home of Jus Brother Motorcycle Club President Bob "Rebel" Riley.



Riley, 74, sustained a gunshot injury to his arm when a spray of bullets was fired. The feud erupted over a biker who jumped from the Jus Brothers to the Misfits.



Anselmi also was found guilty of shooting into a dwelling and acting on behalf of a criminal street gang.



Jurors acquitted Anselmi of firing at three San Joaquin County sheriff's deputies who were in the area and had responded to the shooting, San Joaquin County Deputy Public Defender Eric Taylor said.



The guilty verdicts and two strikes on Anselmi's criminal record will expose him to a state prison sentence that will run beyond his natural life, San Joaquin County Deputy District Attorney Mark Dennings said.



Anselmi's co-defendant, Robert Love, 51, awaits trial on related charges. San Joaquin County Superior Court Judge Linda Lofthus, who oversaw the trial, is expected to sentence Anselmi on Feb. 28.



Contact reporter Scott Smith at (209) 546-8296 or ssmith@recordnet.com. Visit his blog at recordnet.com/smithblog.