John Caniglia
cleveland.com
Hells Angels member Scott Stage, left, listens to testimony in his trial in Medina County Common Pleas Court. He was convicted today of felonious assault. At right, is Justin Seliskar, who was acquitted of assault charges Friday.
MEDINA, Ohio -- A Medina County jury Monday convicted a Hells Angel of beating a biker in Montville Township.
Scott Stage, 46, of Parma was convicted of felonious assault. He faces two to eight years in prison when Medina County Common Pleas Judge James Kimbler sentences him April 28. Because Stage is a repeat violent offender, Kimbler could add more time.
Stage's lawyer, David Sheldon, said he and his client were disappointed with the verdict, saying they didn't believe the victim, Steven Keresztesi, suffered serious injuries. Stage is expected to appeal.
On Friday, the same jury acquitted another Hells Angel, Justin Seliskar, 31, of Medina, of assault charges.
Stage and Seliskar were charged in the beating of Keresztesi, a 63-year-old Clevelander who was seeking to re-establish the Coffin Cheaters, bikers who rode in Northeast Ohio for decades. Authorities said the Hells Angels wanted the Coffin Cheaters to pay a toll for riding in their territory while wearing patches and insignias.
"The Hells Angels didn't want the Coffin Cheaters riding the roads down here," Medina County Prosecutor Dean Holman said. He declined further comment.
Scott Salisbury, an assistant county prosecutor, said in his opening court statement that Seliskar set up a meeting Sept. 3 with Keresztesi and a friend behind a restaurant off Ohio 18 in Montville Township. After shaking hands and talking, Stage punched Keresztesi in the face, Salisbury said.
The punch came because Keresztesi said he wouldn't pay the Hells Angels, the prosecutor told jurors. Stage hit Keresztesi again, this time in the head with some type of object, according to Salisbury.
Sheldon said Keresztesi provoked the fight, and Stage defended himself. Sheldon and Seliskar's attorney, Dominic Vitantonio, stressed that Keresztesi was not seriously hurt. He suffered bleeding to his head and required stitches, but the injuries were not critical.
Holman said his office considered filing gang charges against Stage and Seliskar. Instead, it used the repeat violent offender statute with Stage. The charge, based on the judge's discretion, could add years to Stage's prison sentence. Stage was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 1991 and felonious assault and intimidation in 2004.
Prosecutors have another case pending against Seliskar. He is accused of possessing a weapon as a felon. The weapon was found during a search of his home. Vitantonio said he will file a motion to suppress the search.
