OFF THE WIRE
Written by
JACLYN O'MALLEY
Under heavy security Vagos motorcycle gang member Ernesto Gonzalez is led from the courtroom on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2011 after being arraigned in the shooting death of Hells Angels member Jeffrey Pettigrew last September during Street Vibrations. / David B. Parker / RGJ
One of three suspects charged in connection with a rival motorcycle gang melee on a crowded Sparks casino dance floor during Street Vibrations pleaded not guilty Thursday to an indictment charging him with murder and conspiring to fight with his rivals.
Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, 53, of San Francisco was arraigned in Washoe District court before Judge Connie Steinheimer on an indictment filed Nov. 9 related to the Sept. 23 shooting death of Jeffrey Pettigrew at the Sparks Nugget. Steinheimer entered the guilty pleas on behalf of Gonzalez, who stood silent.
A Jan. 17 trial date was scheduled. He was arrested about a week after the shooting in San Francisco and returned to Reno on Monday. Three attornies from the public defenders office represented him during Thursday’s brief hearing.
Gonzalez is a Vago motorcycle gang member from San Jose, while Pettigrew was the San Jose Hells Angels Chapter president. The two groups are historical rivals.
The shooting caused the City of Sparks to issue a 24-hour state of emergency while the remainder of Street Vibrations was cancelled.
Also charged in the indictment was San Jose chapter Hells Angels member, Cesar Villagrana, 36, of Gilroy, and San Jose Vagos member, Stuart Gary Rudnick, whose nickname is “Jabbers.” His age and hometown were not known.
Authorities said both men were arrested in the Los Angeles area, and should be brought to Washoe County within the next couple of weeks.
The indictment alleges that Rudnick challenged the Hells Angels to a fight, which was accepted by Pettigrew and Villagrana. Because they all conspired to fight, which resulted in fatal gunfire, the men were charged in the indictment as co-defendants. They are considered principles to Pettigrew’s murder even though Gonzalez is charged with open murder with a deadly weapon for “inflicting mortal injuries” upon Pettigrew. He is charged additionally, as is Villagrana, with second-degree murder and carrying a concealed weapon. The second-degree murder charge alleges that Gonzalez and Villagrana aided and abetted Rudnick and Pettigrew in the commission of a fight with the use of a deadly weapon, which caused the shooting that killed Pettigrew.
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All three men are charged with conspiracy to engage in an affray, a gross misdemeanor and challenge to a fight resulting in death with the use of a deadly weapon, a felony.
Villagrana was charged additionally with two counts of felony battery with a deadly weapon for shooting two Vagos members and causing non-life threatening injuries; discharging a firearm in a structure and carrying a concealed weapon, both felonies.
The indictment said the incident was carried out to promote the men’s respective gangs.
Villagrana was arrested the night of the shooting with a 9-mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen in Arizona in 1998, police said.
He was later freed after posting $150,000 bail after being charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon illegally and discharging a firearm in a structure. But after the indictment was issued Nov. 9, he was taken into custody again.
10:44 a.m. story: The motorcycle gang member accused of murdering a Hells Angels club president inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget is scheduled to be arraigned in Washoe District Court at 11 a.m.
Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, 56, a member of the Vagos motorcycle club, faces a charge of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the shooting death of Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew, the San Jose club president of the Hells Angels, during the annual Street Vibrations motorcycle festival in September.
Also charged in the indictment handed down on Nov. 9, are Cesar Villagrana, a Hells Angels member; and Gary Stuart Rudnick, a Vagos motorcycle club member, who prosecutors say conspired in the events that led to Pettigrew’s death on Sept. 23.
Villagrana is accused of shooting two other Vagos members that night at the casino, one in the leg and one in the stomach.
It was not clear Thursday morning if Rudnick or Villagrana are in custody.
All three suspects were indicted on a felony count of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.
The arraignment of Gonazalez is taking place in the court of Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer.
All three men are charged with conspiracy to engage in an affray, a gross misdemeanor and challenge to a fight resulting in death with the use of a deadly weapon, a felony.
Villagrana was charged additionally with two counts of felony battery with a deadly weapon for shooting two Vagos members and causing non-life threatening injuries; discharging a firearm in a structure and carrying a concealed weapon, both felonies.
The indictment said the incident was carried out to promote the men’s respective gangs.
Villagrana was arrested the night of the shooting with a 9-mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen in Arizona in 1998, police said.
He was later freed after posting $150,000 bail after being charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon illegally and discharging a firearm in a structure. But after the indictment was issued Nov. 9, he was taken into custody again.
10:44 a.m. story: The motorcycle gang member accused of murdering a Hells Angels club president inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget is scheduled to be arraigned in Washoe District Court at 11 a.m.
Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, 56, a member of the Vagos motorcycle club, faces a charge of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the shooting death of Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew, the San Jose club president of the Hells Angels, during the annual Street Vibrations motorcycle festival in September.
Also charged in the indictment handed down on Nov. 9, are Cesar Villagrana, a Hells Angels member; and Gary Stuart Rudnick, a Vagos motorcycle club member, who prosecutors say conspired in the events that led to Pettigrew’s death on Sept. 23.
Villagrana is accused of shooting two other Vagos members that night at the casino, one in the leg and one in the stomach.
It was not clear Thursday morning if Rudnick or Villagrana are in custody.
All three suspects were indicted on a felony count of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.
The arraignment of Gonazalez is taking place in the court of Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer.
Villagrana was charged additionally with two counts of felony battery with a deadly weapon for shooting two Vagos members and causing non-life threatening injuries; discharging a firearm in a structure and carrying a concealed weapon, both felonies.
The indictment said the incident was carried out to promote the men’s respective gangs.
Villagrana was arrested the night of the shooting with a 9-mm Smith and Wesson semi-automatic handgun that had been reported stolen in Arizona in 1998, police said.
He was later freed after posting $150,000 bail after being charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, carrying a concealed weapon illegally and discharging a firearm in a structure. But after the indictment was issued Nov. 9, he was taken into custody again.
10:44 a.m. story: The motorcycle gang member accused of murdering a Hells Angels club president inside John Ascuaga’s Nugget is scheduled to be arraigned in Washoe District Court at 11 a.m.
Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez, 56, a member of the Vagos motorcycle club, faces a charge of open murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the shooting death of Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew, the San Jose club president of the Hells Angels, during the annual Street Vibrations motorcycle festival in September.
Also charged in the indictment handed down on Nov. 9, are Cesar Villagrana, a Hells Angels member; and Gary Stuart Rudnick, a Vagos motorcycle club member, who prosecutors say conspired in the events that led to Pettigrew’s death on Sept. 23.
Villagrana is accused of shooting two other Vagos members that night at the casino, one in the leg and one in the stomach.
It was not clear Thursday morning if Rudnick or Villagrana are in custody.
All three suspects were indicted on a felony count of second-degree murder with a deadly weapon.
The arraignment of Gonazalez is taking place in the court of Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer.
