LAKEPORT >> While the prosecution has been attempting to prove the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club’s history of violence, the defense counsel has been just as busy trying to poke holes in the district attorney deputy’s evidence as the trial resumed following a holiday break.
The trial stems from a June 2011 fight between members of the Hells Angels and Vagos Motorcycle Club at Konocti Vista Casino. There were no serious injuries from the brief affair.
Gang enhancement charges were applied the three defendants. The prosecution hopes the jury will find the three defendants guilty of aiding and abetting a criminal street gang, but the defense contends the club is not a gang and should not receive such enhancement charges.
Although former sheriff Frank Rivero was slotted to testify Wednesday, his appearance has been moved to next week as gang expert Jorge Gil-Blanco’s questioning took up all three trial days.
A majority of District Attorney Deputy Art Grothe’s questioning of Gil-Blanco revolved around a list of about 40 acts of violence that have allegedly involved Hells Angels members. Most of the altercations occurred within the last decade and involved members of the Ventura Chapter of the club, but also included incidents that took place in other states.
Gil-Blanco, who has worked on or assisted in investigations concerning the Hells Angels since 1980, had complied the list over the years. In addition, he has provided expert testimony in about 40 cases, he said.
Grothe and Gil-Blanco also walked the jury through a couple dozen predicate offenses of various Hells Angels members, many of which included the sale of methamphetamine.
During the defense’s cross-examination of Gil-Blanco, efforts to call into question Gil-Blanco’s credentials, as well as credibility, consumed an equal amount of time.
Attorney Jai Gohel brought up a number of the cases listed in Gil-Blanco’s projected PDF to show no convictions had actually resulted in many of the incidents he included.
An attorney who has represented multiple Hells Angels members at trail in the past, Gohel said he’s cross-examined Gil-Blanco in at least four different cases. Indeed, the two quickly appeared frustrated with each other’s approach to questions and answers.
Gil-Blanco’s responses fell into a pattern of dismissing Gohel’s questions with his inability to recall details he might have otherwise been expected to as a Hells Angels expert, such as what the club’s membership card looked like.
The counsel also attacked Gil-Blanco’s lack of formal training; his only degree is an associates in photography. Otherwise, his experience has been gathered from working with law enforcement.
The rest of their questioning sought to show Hells Angels members partaking in normal and nonthreatening practices and philosophies, such as referring to one another as brothers, sending each other plaques to commemorate members on their anniversary with the club and donating to charities.
