agingrebel.com
Sun, Oct 30, 2011
The sensational drug case against California State University at San Bernardino Kinesiology professor Stephen “Skinz” Kinzey appears to be losing its press appeal. Kinzey earned his colorful nickname as a biker.San Bernardino County officials held a press conference six days after Kinzey’s Highland, California home was raided by a Swat team on August 26. Speakers at the press event stood behind a table decorated with two Devils Diciples cuts, an Old Lady’s cut, A Nazi SS banner, several one ounce packets of methamphetamine, two sets of brass knuckles, a derringer, a bullet proof vest, two rifles, a shotgun, a police baton and an AP-9 semi-automatic pistol.
The Devils Diciples Menace
Officials were outraged that Kinzey was both a college professor and the President of the Mountain Chapter of the Devils Diciples Motorcycle Club.“He’s smarter than the average dealer,” San Bernardino Sheriff’s Detective Jason Rosenbaum said. “He was doing what he could to keep it under wraps…. I believe he does have the ability to flee the country because there are (Devils Diciples) chapters in other countries. He also has family out of state.” Rosenbaum accused the Devils Diciples of being a nationwide criminal organization.
San Bernardino Sheriff Rod Hoops said, “I have kids in college and to have an associate professor who is a member of the Devils Diciples dealing narcotics is quite alarming. I mean, it’s unusual to say the least…. Hopefully, we can get our main suspect (Kinzey) in custody in the next few days.”
Nationally, the Devils Diciples Motorcycle Club has about 150 members. The Mountain Chapter has six members.
The Devil’s Professor
Kinzey was quickly dubbed “The Devil’s Professor” in most of the English speaking world and his predicament was compared the television show Breaking Bad. He turned himself in the week of the press conference and has been free on bail since. His attorney explained he had been on vacation. He is currently on leave from his teaching job.Kinzey has pleaded not guilty to charges of possession of a controlled substance for sale, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to distribute illegal narcotics, being in possession of a controlled substance while armed with a loaded firearm and participating in a criminal street gang. Specifically, he is charged with selling ounces of crank to street dealers.
At a court appearance last Friday San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Steve Sanchez said, “By selling drugs, the defendant is furthering the reputation of the gang (the Devils Diciples MC) as a criminal enterprise.”
The case is the fruit of a two-year-long ATF investigation of the Vagos Motorcycle Club.
The Scorecard
Five defendants in the case have already agreed to plea and sentencing agreements. Wendi Lee Witherell accepted a deal September 27 that will sentence her to 210 days in county jail. She can serve the sentence on weekends. Stephanie Danielle Padilla and Elaine Linda Flores took the same deal on October 3. Chelsea Johnson took the same deal October 19. Eric Cortez agreed to do 180 days in county jail plus supervised probation last week.Kinzey, his girlfriend Holly Robinson, Hans Preszler and Jeremy Disney who is accused of selling the meth to Kinzey are all fighting the charges. All four appeared in court last Friday, October 28 and all four are scheduled to return to court on January 20, 2012.
The remaining defendants in the case, Edward Freer and Chris Rikerd were also in court last Friday. They had their cases continued until November 21.
As of Sunday night, October 30, neither The Associated Press, the Times of London or the Huffington Post had advanced the story.