OFF THE WIRE
BY: JIM SECKLER
mohavedailynews.com
A former member of a motorcycle club allegedly involved in a 2009 fight at a Bullhead City bar, was sentenced Friday to 21⁄2 years in prison.
George Edward Walters, 54, had been charged with felony counts of riot and assisting in a criminal street gang. He pleaded guilty last month to the same charges. He was charged along with other Hells Angels club members with getting into a fight with several rival motorcycle club members at Lazy Harry’s Sunshine Saloon on June 11, 2009.
Walters’ attorney, Ron Gilleo, said the riot was not really a riot. No chairs or property were damaged and no weapons were displayed. His client’s participation in the bar fight was also minimal. Gilleo also said Walters had no violent felony convictions or drug or weapon convictions.
The defense attorney also said his client left the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club and is now probably in bad standing with the club. Because he has dissociated with the club, he is fearful for his life and will likley be on the run for the rest of his life.
Walters also spoke in his defense, saying he has turned his life around and would never again put anyone else at risk.
Deputy Mohave County Attorney Bob Moon argued for an aggravating prison sentence, saying Walters had accomplices. The prosecutor also said the bar fight had more potential for violence than there actually was. Moon asked the judge to send a message to outlaw bikers that they cannot terrorize citizens in Mohave County.
Judge Steven Conn said he had to focus on Walters’ crimes, not send any messages to the Hells Angels. The judge found more mitigating than aggravating factors that Walters had a minimal criminal history and that there were few details about the actual fight. Conn sentenced him to 21⁄2 years in prison for the street gang charge and nine months for the riot charge, to be served concurrently, or at the same time as each other.
At Walters’ change of plea hearing, Moon told the judge that Walters had been a member of the Hells Angels club, who was trying to start a chapter in Mohave County. The club was reportedly involved in a territorial dispute with the rival Vagos Motorcycle Club. Walters was arrested in Georgia two months ago after he previously agreed to another plea agreement.
Six of Walters’ codefendants in the alleged fight are still charged with the same crimes. Their trials were postponed to October. The six codefendants were arrested in December 2009 following a six-month investigation by law enforcement officers from the Bullhead City, Kingman, Lake Havasu City and Flagstaff police departments, the Mohave and Coconino County sheriff’s office and the Arizona Department of Public Safety Gang Intelligence Team Enforcement Mission.
