Hells Angels: Judge drops gang charges; defendants held to answer for robbery
The Bakersfield Californian August 21, 2024
https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/hells-angels-judge-drops-gang-charges-defendants-held-to-answer-for-robbery/article_9fee184e-5fb5-11ef-a557-93c81a445eb6.html
A Kern County judge dismissed all gang charges and enhancements Monday for the four defendants suspected of robbing the former Bakersfield Hells Angels Motorcycle Club’s clubhouse.
Judge Kenneth Twisselman chose to dismiss the participation in a street gang charge for Ricardo Alvarez, Armando Villasenor, Joshua Zavala and Joshua Vaughn due to a lack of evidence.
A four-day preliminary hearing ended Monday morning after the defense attorneys argued that their clients do not have criminal convictions. Tony Lidgett, representing Alvarez, argued Friday that the Bakersfield Hells Angels charter is not the same as every Hells Angels charter.
Gabriel Godinez, the defense attorney for Villasenor, said during Friday’s hearing that the Bakersfield Hells Angels host community events and even toy drives.
Alvarez, Villasenor and Zavala are members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club. However, Vaughn’s attorney, Andrew Lockhart, said Vaughn was not an official member and was prospecting for the Sons of Hell Motorcycle Club.
At the beginning of Monday’s hearing, Twisselman decided to not consider testimony about a San Diego Hells Angels case and Zavala’s current case. His defense attorney, Victor Nasser, said the outcome of that case has not been determined yet and should not be used in the robbery case.
Alvarez, Villasenor and Zavala will be held to answer for the first-degree robbery of an inhabited house, assault with a firearm and false imprisonment of an elderly adult. Alvarez is also facing charges for criminal threats and dissuading a victim to testify.
Vaughn will be held to answer for second-degree robbery, assault with a firearm, false imprisonment of an elderly person and dissuading a victim to testify.
The four defendants — along with Joseph Sotto Sr., Joseph Soto Jr, and John Seeger — are all suspected of robbing James Dickens at the former Hells Angels clubhouse in Oildale. According to Dickens’ statements to investigators, several members of the Bakersfield Hells Angels assaulted him, threatened him and stole items from the house that they said were club items on March 1 through 3 and April 10 and 11.
The prosecutor, Deputy District Attorney Jordan Houle, urged Twisselman Monday to evaluate the evidence and testimonies in their totality before deciding which charges the defendants should be held to answer for. Houle referred to the crimes as a “scheme that lasted over a month.”
However, Lidgett argued that he could not see any evidence to corroborate Dickens’ stories about the robberies. He said none of the items reported stolen were located and Dickens has not provided investigators with a full list of missing items.
Lidgett also questioned the dates of the events — noting that Alvarez’s phone did not ping in the area of the old clubhouse the day the prosecutor said Dickens said Alvarez and others there to rob him. Godinez and Victor Nasser, Zavala’s attorney, echoed the same message and said their clients’ phones also did not ping in the area on the day of the alleged robbery.
The defense attorney also pointed out they did not know if Dickens lived in the clubhouse and Lidgett said a stay-away order for Dickens lists a different address than the house on North Chester Avenue.
Following Monday’s hearing, Twisselman scheduled a bail review hearing on Aug. 27 and arraignment for the four defendants on Aug. 29. Alvarez is being held without bail and Villasenor, Zavala and Vaughn are being held on $800,000 bail.
The four defendants remain in custody as of Monday. Soto, Soto and Seeger have their pre-preliminary hearing later this week.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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