OFF THE WIRE
One of the motorcycle gxxg members involved in the deadly shooting at a Sparks casino during Street Vibrations pleaded guilty on Friday in a plea deal, a prosecutor said.
Gary Rudnick, 45, was facing first-degree murder charges for allegedly inciting a fight between the Vagos motorcycle gxxg and a rival Hells Angeles chapter on Sept. 23, which left 51-year-old San Jose president Jeffery Pettigrew dead.
But he pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit murder and will testify at the October murder trial of his fellow gxxg member, said Chief Deputy District Attorney Karl Hall.
“I’m happy with that,” Hall said after Rudnick entered his plea before Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer. She also reduced his bail from $300,000 to $100,000, according to the court.
“He’s expected to testify at trial,” Hall said of Rudnick.
Rudnick faces a maximum of 10 years in prison when he is sentenced in December, Hall said.
Fellow Vagos member Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez of San Francisco, charged with gunning down Pettigrew on a crowded dance floor at John Ascuaga’s Nugget, has pleaded not guilty to a list of charges, including murder, carrying a concealed weapon and discharging a weapon in a casino, Hall said.
His trial is set for Oct. 29. His bail was set for $2 million.
Hells Angel member, Cesar Villagrana of Gilroy, Calif., also has pleaded not guilty charges ranging from second-degree murder to carrying a concealed weapon. He was charged for allegedly accepting a challenge to fight and firing shots when the violence started on the dance floor.
The Nugget was evacuated late on Sept. 23 after shots were fired and a fight broke out on the dance floor at Trader Dick’s. Besides Pettigrew’s fatal injuries, two others were injured. Two members of the Vagos motorcycle club suffered leg and abdomen injuries.
According to police reports, the battle between the Vagos and Hells Angels started in the Oyster Bar at the Nugget when Rudnick instigated a fight with Pettigrew.
Pettigrew reportedly punched Rudnick in the face, and the gun battle ensued, records show.
The indictment against the men says Rudnick, with the Vagos, challenged the Hells Angeles to a fight and Pettigrew and Villagrana accepted. Since all of the men conspired to fight and their argument resulted in fatal gunfire, all of the men were charged as co-defendants.
Gonzalez was charged with open murder with a deadly weapon because he fired the fatal shot. Villagrana was charged with second-degree murder, two counts of felony battery with a deadly weapon for shooting two Vagos members, which left them with non-life-threatening injuries.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20120302/NEWS01/303020066/Motorcycle-gang-member-involved-Nugget-shooting-takes-plea-deal-expected-testify-against-two-others
Rudnick Makes A Deal
The guilty plea is one part of a plea and sentencing agreement Rudnick has arranged with the Washoe County District Attorney. He will testify against two other defendants when their trial begins next October. Those men are a Hells Angel named Cesar Villagrana and a Vago named Ernesto Manuel Gonzalez. Both men are charged with “conspiracy to engage in an affray” resulting in death. Gonzalez is also charged with murder. Villagrana is also charged with discharging a pistol.
Deadly Fight
The charges result from a deadly fight between Vagos and Hells Angels last September 23 in John Ascuaga’s Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, Nevada. Hells Angels San Jose charter President Jeffrey “Jethro” Pettigrew was killed in the brief melee. Two Vagos named Leonard Ramirez and Diego Garcia were also shot.
Rudnick relentlessly provoked a fight with Pettigrew for almost an hour before violence erupted at 11:25 that night. Rudnick, who was drunk, complained that when Pettigrew said “Hello” and slapped Rudnick on the back he touched Rudnick’s Vagos patch. At the time Pettigrew was shaking hands with and greeting numerous Vagos. As he greeted Rudnick, Pettigrew asked, “Hey you want to have a beer?”
Rudnick exploded “You have no right to touch me!”
Rudnick spent much of the next hour complaining to his club brothers and taunting Pettigrew who eventually said, “I don’t need to talk to you no more.”
Moments later, Pettigrew hit the jabbering Rudnick with a beer bottle and the fight quickly escalated. Rudnick was expelled from the Vagos within two days of the fight.
Multiple Cooperators
Rudnick is one of two Vagos who have cooperated with prosecutors in the case. A former Vago named Jacob Cancelli testified before the Nevada grand jury that indicted Rudnick, Villagrana and Gonzalez. Although this is a state case, Cancelli had been convicted of federal fraud charges in Wilmington, Delaware. Presumably, since Cancelli has been in the custody of federal police and he has been talking to police some of the police he has talked to are federal police
Cancelli substantiated what the prosecution believes are the key elements of the affray accusation: That there was “a prior plan to engage in mutual combat” and the brawl was the result of “a challenge to fight” made by Rudnick and accepted by Pettigrew. Rudnick will probably also substantiate those same elements.
The extent of Rudnick’s cooperation with state and local authorities is unknown at this time. After he pled guilty yesterday his bail was reduced from $300,000 to $100,000.
He could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison but if he offers what is usually called “significant cooperation” it is very unlikely that his sentence will be that severe.
