Las Vegas, Nevada

Febuary 25, 2010

Three members of the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club were charged with committing Battery With Substantial Bodily Harm stood in front of a Justice of the Peace this afternoon in the second day of testimony by eye witnesses and a Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Detective who claimed to work on Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs.  Attorney Chris Rasmussen vehemently rejected claims by the prosecutors that the Hells Angels were gang members.  "There is no court in the United States that has made a legal finding that the Hells Angels are a gang" said Rasmussen.  Rasmussen also represented Donald Smith a former member of the Hells Angels in the Laughlin shootout that left four dead.  In that case, the Government dismissed all charges against Smith. 

This afternoon the Justice of the Peace dismissed Count 1 Battery with Substantial Bodily Harm after hearing arguments from both sides.  The prosecutors alleged that the victim's ear was ripped in half.  Defense attorneys sucessfully argued that the injuries were minor.  The Judge dismissed the sole felony count.  On March 30, the third day of the preliminary hearing will continue with the lone count of conspiracy to commit battery.