In what prosecutors called an unprecedented decision, jurors Thursday at the
Southwest Justice Center found a Temecula general contractor and admitted Hell’s
Angel motorcycle club member guilty of criminal street gang 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 to 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 Hell’s Angels to intimidate them.
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 Hell Angel’s is a gang and will be defined as a criminal street gang under the law,” Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky said after the verdicts. “The Hell’s Angels has been defined as a gang for the first time in Riverside County history.”
Strunsky added that the motorcycle club previously had been defined as a criminal street gang in other counties.
The jury, however, did not find true two allegations that Bradley made the criminal threats against the subcontractors to benefit his gang.
Bradley also was found guilty of possessing a weapon and ammunition in violation of a court order.
The seven-women, five-man jury deliberated for a day and a half before reaching its decision. 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.
Defense attorney David Kenner said his client was not a flight risk and noted that Bradley had been present at every court date during the trial.
“We’ll be happy to turn in his passport to the court,” Kenner said.
But Kenner’s arguments did not sway Wojick. Bradley was placed in handcuffs and led from the courtroom by a Riverside County deputy sheriff.
john.hunneman@utsandiego.com • (951) 676-4315, ext. 2603
James Albert Bradley, 49, faces up to five years in prison when he is sentenced on Nov. 9.
The threats were made to 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 Hell’s Angels to intimidate them.
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 Hell Angel’s is a gang and will be defined as a criminal street gang under the law,” Deputy District Attorney Burke Strunsky said after the verdicts. “The Hell’s Angels has been defined as a gang for the first time in Riverside County history.”
Strunsky added that the motorcycle club previously had been defined as a criminal street gang in other counties.
The jury, however, did not find true two allegations that Bradley made the criminal threats against the subcontractors to benefit his gang.
Bradley also was found guilty of possessing a weapon and ammunition in violation of a court order.
The seven-women, five-man jury deliberated for a day and a half before reaching its decision. 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.
Defense attorney David Kenner said his client was not a flight risk and noted that Bradley had been present at every court date during the trial.
“We’ll be happy to turn in his passport to the court,” Kenner said.
But Kenner’s arguments did not sway Wojick. Bradley was placed in handcuffs and led from the courtroom by a Riverside County deputy sheriff.
john.hunneman@utsandiego.com • (951) 676-4315, ext. 2603