By Francis McCabe
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
A district judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the ongoing trial for eight of 13 men, including members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, charged with bludgeoning rival gang members during a 2008 brawl at a downtown wedding chapel.
Judge Michael Villani ruled prosecutors had failed to turn over evidence to defense attorneys in the case. The trial had begun its third week, including a week of jury selection.
The eight defendants are Dominic Orlando, Frederick O'Dell, Brandon Young, James Sexey, John Dawson, Jeffrey Murray, John Merchant, and Armando Porras. The defendants faced about a dozen felony and misdemeanor counts, including attempted murder, battery and conspiracy.
Authorities say the melee at A Special Memory Wedding Chapel on Fourth Street and Gass Avenue on Dec. 20, 2008, injured at least six, including three members of the Mongols biker gang, two of whom were stabbed.
The brawl followed a wedding ceremony the Hells Angels were attending. As they were leaving, they saw at least three Mongols at the chapel for a different wedding. The 13 men attacked the Mongols, bludgeoning them with their fists, feet, bottles and trash cans.
Defense attorneys said their clients were acting in self defense.
Prosecutors called it an unprovoked attack by gang members.
The five other defendants in the case will face similar charges in other trials .
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.
Judge Michael Villani ruled prosecutors had failed to turn over evidence to defense attorneys in the case. The trial had begun its third week, including a week of jury selection.
The eight defendants are Dominic Orlando, Frederick O'Dell, Brandon Young, James Sexey, John Dawson, Jeffrey Murray, John Merchant, and Armando Porras. The defendants faced about a dozen felony and misdemeanor counts, including attempted murder, battery and conspiracy.
Authorities say the melee at A Special Memory Wedding Chapel on Fourth Street and Gass Avenue on Dec. 20, 2008, injured at least six, including three members of the Mongols biker gang, two of whom were stabbed.
The brawl followed a wedding ceremony the Hells Angels were attending. As they were leaving, they saw at least three Mongols at the chapel for a different wedding. The 13 men attacked the Mongols, bludgeoning them with their fists, feet, bottles and trash cans.
Defense attorneys said their clients were acting in self defense.
Prosecutors called it an unprovoked attack by gang members.
The five other defendants in the case will face similar charges in other trials .
Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.