OFF THE WIRE
Hells Angel member faces long sentence for threatening witness
A 64-year-old member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club convicted by a jury this week of dissuading and threatening a witness and of street terrorism is facing a long prison term when he is sentenced next year, according to prosecutors.
On Friday, Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Hirsch found true that Thomas Heath already had four felony "strike" convictions, said prosecutor Tate McCallister.
Heath, of Ventura, is facing 35 years to life in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 3, McCallister said.
"He is a very proud member of the Hells Angels. He claims the Hells Angels is not a gang," McCallister said. "But the jury disagreed."
In addition to the witness charges, jurors Thursday found Heath guilty of street terrorism, deciding the crimes benefitted the Hells Angels, a criminal street gang, McCallister said.
On Nov. 22, 2010, Heath was living with a woman who told him to move out of the home, according to McCallister. Heath refused and threatened to kill her and her son, and also said the Hells Angels would harm the woman. McCallister said that when police arrived, Heath threatened her again in front of the officers and was arrested.
"I don't threaten to kill people. I just do it," Heath said in front of police, according to McCallister.
The judge found true that Heath was convicted in 1994 of two counts of second-degree murder in Los Angeles County in connection with the 1977 bombing of an auto shop run by a rival motorcycle gang, the Mongols. McCallister said the blast killed a 15-year-old boy and 22-year-old man. Heath was sentenced to seven years in prison for that crime.
In 1992, Heath was convicted of brutally beating his wife and got seven years for assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness by threats — his other two felony "strikes," prosecutors said.
On Friday, Ventura County Superior Court Judge David Hirsch found true that Thomas Heath already had four felony "strike" convictions, said prosecutor Tate McCallister.
Heath, of Ventura, is facing 35 years to life in prison when he is sentenced Feb. 3, McCallister said.
"He is a very proud member of the Hells Angels. He claims the Hells Angels is not a gang," McCallister said. "But the jury disagreed."
In addition to the witness charges, jurors Thursday found Heath guilty of street terrorism, deciding the crimes benefitted the Hells Angels, a criminal street gang, McCallister said.
On Nov. 22, 2010, Heath was living with a woman who told him to move out of the home, according to McCallister. Heath refused and threatened to kill her and her son, and also said the Hells Angels would harm the woman. McCallister said that when police arrived, Heath threatened her again in front of the officers and was arrested.
"I don't threaten to kill people. I just do it," Heath said in front of police, according to McCallister.
The judge found true that Heath was convicted in 1994 of two counts of second-degree murder in Los Angeles County in connection with the 1977 bombing of an auto shop run by a rival motorcycle gang, the Mongols. McCallister said the blast killed a 15-year-old boy and 22-year-old man. Heath was sentenced to seven years in prison for that crime.
In 1992, Heath was convicted of brutally beating his wife and got seven years for assault with a deadly weapon and dissuading a witness by threats — his other two felony "strikes," prosecutors said.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/dec/16/hells-angel-member-faces-long-sentence-for/?partner=yahoo_feeds#ixzz1gl2yQ6f1
- vcstar.com