More than a dozen members of the Hells Angels have been indicted after allegedly attacking and harassing three young black men with racial epithets in San Diego.
In announcing 'one of the largest violent crime prosecutions against Hells Angels,' San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan said 17 people had been placed under arrest for chasing and assaulting the men on June 6.
The attack took place on Newport Avenue in San Diego's Ocean Beach area and the victims - aged 19, 20, and 21 - were harassed, beaten, and stabbed.
In a news conference, prosecutors announced charges ranging from accessory after the fact to attempted murder for the 17 defendants ranging in age from 22 to 57.
'In San Diego County, we cannot, and will not tolerate violence and racism of any nature, much less crimes like this hateful, vicious, and unprovoked attack,' said Stephan.
Three members of the Hells Angels biker gang are seen in court for their indictments Monday
17 members and supporters of the Hells Angels biker gang were arrested in connection to a racially-motivated attack in San Diego in June. Pictured: San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan presents Hells Angels paraphernalia during a press conference on Monday
In a press release, Stephan said the three unnamed victims had been enjoying a night out on Newport Avenue when 'virtually out of nowhere,' they were attacked.
Prosecutors asserted that the harassment may have been 'triggered because one of them dared to talk to one of the girlfriends of these members.'
From there, the Hells Angels members and supporters chased the three men, shouting racial epithets and telling them they 'didn't belong in that neighborhood.'
One of the three men was able to get away without injury but was still traumatized.
Another one of the three victims was punched and kicked all over his body.
According to Stephan, 'the beating only stopped after he was sucker punched in the head and knocked unconscious.'
The third young black man was beaten by multiple bikers and 'left helpless, curled up on the ground,' a press release said.
The assault ended as Hells Angels leader, Troy Scholder, 43, allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest, cracking his sternum in the process.
After that, Scholder 'casually folded up his knife and walked away,' officials said.
The two men who were physically hurt in the attack survived their injuries.
'The Hells Angels are well-known to have a despicable streak of racism, especially against black people, exemplified by what happened in Ocean Beach earlier this summer,' Stephan said.
The assault ended as Hells Angels leader, Troy Scholder (pictured) allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed him in the chest, cracking his sternum in the process
'In San Diego County, we cannot, and will not tolerate violence and racism of any nature, much less crimes like this hateful, vicious, and unprovoked attack,' said Stephan (pictured)
Stephan said that prosecutors felt pressured to pursue charges against the Hells Angels members as the group has sparked fear in the community for years.
'There were many people on the street, on the sidewalk that day, none of them intervened because of the fear and terror that the Hells Angels instill in our community,' she said.
Three months after the brutal attacks, several of the accused were in court for their indictments, including one who is a member of the U.S. Navy.
29-year-old Mikael Everett Peters appeared in court Monday in a Navy uniform and pleaded not guilty to an assault charge.
Also in court Monday was Scholder, who officials said shaved his head to try and avoid being caught by the police.
He pleaded not guilty to attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
According to Stephan, he has been a member of Hells Angels since 2003 and faces 39 years to life behind bars if he is convicted. He has several prior convictions.
The full list of those indicted are:
- Danny James Pinto, 23: Accessory after the fact
- Haley Michelle Castellano, 22: Accessory after the fact
- Billy Manuel Castellano, 57: Accessory after the fact
- Mikael Everett Peters, 29: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Matthew Shane Gungle, 37: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury, evading officer with reckless driving, possession of leaded cane/billy/blackjack/sandbag/sandclub/sap/slungshot
- Joshua Winter, 38 Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Travis William Squire, 38: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Roberto Armando Ruiz, 32: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Tyson Mitchell Rhoads, 28: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- William Patrick McDonnal, 39: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Gabriel Ricardo Luna de la Fuente, 45: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Adam George Houx, 38: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Jermie Johnathan Hocanson, 42: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Kyle Patrick Robert Donegan, 36: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Troy Andrew Scholder, 43: Attempted murder, assault with deadly weapon
- Jacob Berghaus, 33: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
- Anderson Eneliko Alexander Jr, 39: Assault by means likely to produce great bodily injury
29-year-old Mikael Everett Peters (pictured) appeared in court Monday in a Navy uniform and pleaded not guilty to an assault charge
Some of the Hells Angels items seized during an investigation into the attacks
The majority of the defendants are facing three to 17 years behind bars.
Some of the defendants face variations of the penal code section which include versions of the count involving hate crimes, criminal street gang associations, etc.
As of Monday, three of the 17 have bailed out of custody.
During the investigation into the brutal assaults, law enforcement also executed search warrants that turned up 42 illegal guns.
Authorities said they used a combination of surveillance video, cell phone video and witness statements to make their case.
In total, police believe there are 25 members of Hells Angels in San Diego.
The group has a hierarchy consisting of supporters, hang arounds, prospects and then full-patched members.
In a 2000 interview with BBC, Sonny Barger, a founding member of the Hells Angel said: 'The club, as a whole, is not racist but we probably have enough racist members that no black guy is going to get in it.'
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