In what prosecutors called an unprecedented decision, a jury in Riverside County last week found a Temecula general contractor who is a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club guilty of criminal street gaxxx activity and making criminal threats against two local subcontractors.
James Albert Bradley, 49, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 9.
The threats were made against the two men — one a tile worker, the other a cabinet maker — over payment disagreements in April and May of 2010.
Both men testified during the trial that Bradley used his affiliation with the Hells Angels to intimidate them.
JURY RULES CLUB ‘CRIMINAL
gaxxx,’ JURY RULES CLUB ‘CRIMINAL gaxxx,’
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Garcia told jurors in her closing
argument on Tuesday that the threats made by Bradley had destroyed the men’s
lives and caused them still to be living in fear.
“The jury made it clear that the Hells Angels is a gaxxx and will be defined as a criminal street gaxxx under the law,” Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky said after the verdicts were read. “The Hells Angels has been defined as a gaxxx for the first time in Riverside County history.”
Strunsky added that the motorcycle club previously had been defined as a criminal street gaxxx in other counties.
The jury, however, did not find true two allegations that Bradley made the criminal threats against the subcontractors to benefit his gaxxx.
Bradley also was found guilty of possessing a weapon and ammunition in violation of a court order.
The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for a day and a half before reaching its decision Thursday.
Bradley kept his head down as the court clerk read the verdicts.
Bradley did not take the witness stand during the trial, and his defense team did not call any witnesses.
He was arrested in May 2010 and had been out of custody after posting $75,000 bail.
After the verdicts were announced, Judge Albert Wojick revoked Bradley’s bail and ordered him to be taken into custody, over the objections of his lawyers.
Bradley was placed in handcuffs and led from the courtroom by a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy.
john.hunneman©utsandiego.com (951) 676-4315, ext. 2603
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/22/tp-jury-rules-club-criminal-gaxxx-convicts-member/
“The jury made it clear that the Hells Angels is a gaxxx and will be defined as a criminal street gaxxx under the law,” Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky said after the verdicts were read. “The Hells Angels has been defined as a gaxxx for the first time in Riverside County history.”
Strunsky added that the motorcycle club previously had been defined as a criminal street gaxxx in other counties.
The jury, however, did not find true two allegations that Bradley made the criminal threats against the subcontractors to benefit his gaxxx.
Bradley also was found guilty of possessing a weapon and ammunition in violation of a court order.
The seven-woman, five-man jury deliberated for a day and a half before reaching its decision Thursday.
Bradley kept his head down as the court clerk read the verdicts.
Bradley did not take the witness stand during the trial, and his defense team did not call any witnesses.
He was arrested in May 2010 and had been out of custody after posting $75,000 bail.
After the verdicts were announced, Judge Albert Wojick revoked Bradley’s bail and ordered him to be taken into custody, over the objections of his lawyers.
Bradley was placed in handcuffs and led from the courtroom by a Riverside County sheriff’s deputy.
john.hunneman©utsandiego.com (951) 676-4315, ext. 2603
http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/22/tp-jury-rules-club-criminal-gaxxx-convicts-member/