Raul Hernandez
vcstar.com
A jury Friday found a Hells Angels associate guilty of possessing a loaded firearm while on his way to a funeral of a motorcycle club member in 2010, and testimony at the trial indicated it was a red bandanna that led to the weapon's discovery.
Steven Tempelton, 29, of Vallejo also was found guilty of being under the influence of methamphetamine while possessing a gun. Jurors, however, deadlocked on a special allegation that the crimes were committed for the benefit of the Hells Angels.
Tempelton is facing up to three years in prison when he is sentenced April 2, prosecutors said.
On Sept. 25, 2010, police spotted a group of more than 20 Hells Angels members and associates riding south on Highway 101 in Ventura on their way to the funeral of a member. Officers stopped them and found a gun inside the hard-case saddle bag of Tempelton's motorcycle, which had a red bandanna attached, according to testimony.
Sheriff's Deputy Brian Whittaker testified that a Hells Angel member or associate displaying a red bandanna is signaling to other members that he has a weapon, and that police knew that.
Defense lawyer Justin Tuttle said in an interview that Tempelton was an infantryman in Afghanistan in 2003 and had been treated at a veterans hospital in Palo Alto for post-traumatic stress disorder. Tuttle said Tempelton had no criminal record and possessed the weapon out of fear.
"He's fearful and always arms himself," Tuttle said.
Prosecutor Tate McCallister, however, questioned during closing arguments Thursday why Tempelton was hanging around with a criminal street gang if he was so fearful.
"Why did he join the Hells Angels? Why didn't he join a veterans motorcycle club?" McCallister said.
McCallister said Tempelton's military service had nothing to do with the facts of the case.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/02/jury-finds-vallejo-man-guilty-in-hells-angels/#ixzz1o5CRatL0
- vcstar.com
Steven Tempelton, 29, of Vallejo also was found guilty of being under the influence of methamphetamine while possessing a gun. Jurors, however, deadlocked on a special allegation that the crimes were committed for the benefit of the Hells Angels.
Tempelton is facing up to three years in prison when he is sentenced April 2, prosecutors said.
On Sept. 25, 2010, police spotted a group of more than 20 Hells Angels members and associates riding south on Highway 101 in Ventura on their way to the funeral of a member. Officers stopped them and found a gun inside the hard-case saddle bag of Tempelton's motorcycle, which had a red bandanna attached, according to testimony.
Sheriff's Deputy Brian Whittaker testified that a Hells Angel member or associate displaying a red bandanna is signaling to other members that he has a weapon, and that police knew that.
Defense lawyer Justin Tuttle said in an interview that Tempelton was an infantryman in Afghanistan in 2003 and had been treated at a veterans hospital in Palo Alto for post-traumatic stress disorder. Tuttle said Tempelton had no criminal record and possessed the weapon out of fear.
"He's fearful and always arms himself," Tuttle said.
Prosecutor Tate McCallister, however, questioned during closing arguments Thursday why Tempelton was hanging around with a criminal street gang if he was so fearful.
"Why did he join the Hells Angels? Why didn't he join a veterans motorcycle club?" McCallister said.
McCallister said Tempelton's military service had nothing to do with the facts of the case.
Read more: http://www.vcstar.com/news/2012/mar/02/jury-finds-vallejo-man-guilty-in-hells-angels/#ixzz1o5CRatL0
- vcstar.com
