Hells Angels member charged in Sturgis bar shooting makes appearance at hearing

By Journal staff | Friday, November 21, 2008

Previous Page

Share

• del.icio.us
• Digg
• NewsVine
• Fark

Print

Email

STURGIS -- The attorney for the California man accused of assault after an August motorcycle rally bar fight told a judge Wednesday she needs more information from the investigation.

Joseph P. McGuire, a member of the Hells Angels, was shot by an off-duty Seattle police officer during the early Aug. 9 altercation at the Loud American Road House in Sturgis. Although detective Ron Smith and four others were indicted, the charges have been dismissed for all but one.

Authorities accuse McGuire of starting the incident. McGuire, 33, of Imperial Beach, was hospitalized with stomach and leg wounds. He has pleaded not guilty.

To defend him, attorney Angela Colbath told 4th Circuit Judge Jerome Eckrich that she needs recordings of police interviews, additional surveillance pictures from the incident scene and possibly other law enforcement reports.

Eckrich said she needs to compile a list of requests and file a formal motion by Dec. 1.

McGuire, who attended the status hearing and is still recovering, has the option to attend the Dec. 8 motions hearing but must be at a second hearing set for Jan. 12, the judge said.

On Nov. 14, state Judge Warren Johnson dismissed concealed-weapons charges against four others in the case. Johnson said federal legislation protected law enforcement officers Smith, Scott Lazalde, Dennis McCoy and James Rector, all of Washington state, from prosecution in this case.

Co-defendant Erik Pingel, 35, an Aurora firefighter who has a Colorado concealed-weapons permit, still faces a charge for carrying a concealed weapon into the bar, a violation of South Dakota law.

All five are members of the Iron Pigs, a motorcycle club of firefighters and law enforcement officers.