Details about a methamphetamine trafficking ring allegedly run by Steve Kinzey, a CSUSB professor and chapter president of Devils Diciples motorcycle club, may come to light Tuesday at a court hearing. Judge Kenneth Barr ordered co-defendants Chelsea Marie Johnson, Eric Cortez and Wendi Lee Witherell to return Tuesday to San Bernardino Superior Court for a preliminary hearing.
At such a hearing, a judge will listen to witness testimony - usually from law enforcement officers - to determine if sufficient evidence exists to hold over the defendants for trial on the charges.
Prosecutors say Johnson, Cortez and Witherell did not waive their rights to have the preliminary hearing within 10 days of their
arraignment, as prescribed by state law. In general, defendants often waive that right, or "waive time," to give their lawyers time to fully research their cases. But that's not the case with these defendants.
"We're back on Tuesday," said Johnson's lawyer John-Paul Serrao, of the proceedings Friday in Superior Court.
Witherell, 34, of Mentone, tried to accept a plea offer Friday, say prosecutors, but deputies removed her from the courtroom after she ignored warnings to stop talking with a co-defendant.
Witherell was left inside an inmate holding area when Judge Kenneth Barr called case and could not take the plea bargain.
Judge Kenneth Barr said during the proceedings that Witherell was removed "because of her inability to follow the court rules." Lawyers say the judge will decide whether she will have another chance at the deal on Tuesday.
Prosecutors also gave more discovery, or evidence, to the defense on Friday. The preliminary hearing is expected to last at least 90 minutes, lawyers estimated for the court.
Johnson, 34, Cortez, 31, both of Redlands, and Witherell pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all allegations in the criminal complaint filed in Superior
Court, according to court records. San Bernardino County sheriff's detectives say Kinzey allegedly purchased large amounts of methamphetamine from Jeremy Disney, 30, of San Bernardino and distributed those quantities to Johnson and Cortez, who then split the drugs into smaller amounts for mid-level and street-level dealers.
Eleven people are charged in the case.
Kinzey is president of the San Bernardino Mountains chapter of the Devil's Diciples, a group founded in Fontana in 1967, deputies said. He also has taught kinesiology at Cal State San Bernardino for 10 years.
Local, county and federal law enforcement launched the "Devil's Professor" investigation six months ago, which culminated in a raid Aug. 26 at Kinzey's East Highlands Ranch home, sheriff's deputies said.
Kinzey is out of custody on a $300,000 bond. He is scheduled to to return to court Oct. 28, when prosecutors say they will ask for his bail to be increased.
mike.cruz@inlandnewspapers.com
909-386-3880
Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18964248#ixzz1Yt5hTh9M
At such a hearing, a judge will listen to witness testimony - usually from law enforcement officers - to determine if sufficient evidence exists to hold over the defendants for trial on the charges.
Prosecutors say Johnson, Cortez and Witherell did not waive their rights to have the preliminary hearing within 10 days of their
Stephen Kinzey, the CSUSB professor, motorcycle club president and alleged drug trafficker, appears at the San Bernardino Superior Court for a bail hearing on Friday, September 16, 2011. (Al Cuizon, Staff Photographer)
"We're back on Tuesday," said Johnson's lawyer John-Paul Serrao, of the proceedings Friday in Superior Court.
Witherell, 34, of Mentone, tried to accept a plea offer Friday, say prosecutors, but deputies removed her from the courtroom after she ignored warnings to stop talking with a co-defendant.
Witherell was left inside an inmate holding area when Judge Kenneth Barr called case and could not take the plea bargain.
Judge Kenneth Barr said during the proceedings that Witherell was removed "because of her inability to follow the court rules." Lawyers say the judge will decide whether she will have another chance at the deal on Tuesday.
Prosecutors also gave more discovery, or evidence, to the defense on Friday. The preliminary hearing is expected to last at least 90 minutes, lawyers estimated for the court.
Johnson, 34, Cortez, 31, both of Redlands, and Witherell pleaded not guilty to all charges and denied all allegations in the criminal complaint filed in Superior
Stephen Kinzey, the CSUSB professor, motorcycle club president and alleged drug trafficker, appears at the San Bernardino Superior Court for a bail hearing on Friday, September 16, 2011. (Al Cuizon, Staff Photographer)
Eleven people are charged in the case.
Kinzey is president of the San Bernardino Mountains chapter of the Devil's Diciples, a group founded in Fontana in 1967, deputies said. He also has taught kinesiology at Cal State San Bernardino for 10 years.
Local, county and federal law enforcement launched the "Devil's Professor" investigation six months ago, which culminated in a raid Aug. 26 at Kinzey's East Highlands Ranch home, sheriff's deputies said.
Kinzey is out of custody on a $300,000 bond. He is scheduled to to return to court Oct. 28, when prosecutors say they will ask for his bail to be increased.
mike.cruz@inlandnewspapers.com
909-386-3880
Read more: http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_18964248#ixzz1Yt5hTh9M