chron.com
HOUMA, La. (AP) — A new federal weapons charge apparently trumps the Terrebonne Parish weapons and drug charges on which the alleged head of a local biker gang has been held for two years.
The District Attorney's Office will not continue to prosecute its charges against 44-year-old Blaine Pennison, due to the new federal charges, First Assistant District Attorney Carlos Lazarus told The Courier (http://bit.ly/naNnsV).
Court papers describe Pennison as the Houma chapter president of the Bandidos Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
He was scheduled for trial this week, but the proceedings were continued Monday until Nov. 28. Prosecutors cited his indictment Friday on a federal charge of possessing a firearm after a felony conviction.
Louisiana State Police arrested Pennison in August 2009 after a search of his home found several pills and a revolver loaded with six bullets, according to court papers.
Pennison has prior drug convictions in the parish and was on parole at the time.
Defense attorney John Thomas said Pennison maintains that he didn't know about the gun. He says a friend had left the gun there and was going to get it before Pennison returned.
Authorities say that, as a security risk, he's being held in the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
