Tag Archive for: Hells Angels

Hells Angels Assault Case Concludes

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that a criminal prosecution involving members of the Hells Angels and other gang members has concluded with 14 defendants being convicted and sentenced for a vicious attack on three young men on a public sidewalk in Ocean Beach. The attack was perpetrated by members of the San Diego Hells Angels along with members of other motorcycle gangs that subordinate to the Hells Angels.

“The successful conclusion of this case demonstrates my office’s commitment to holding organized gangs accountable for a wide range of offenses, including violent hate crimes,” said DA Stephan. “This was an unprovoked, vicious attack that nearly ended in tragedy. Thanks to our dedicated prosecution team for their commitment to delivering justice as this complex case wound its way through the criminal justice system.”

The case resulted from an incident in June of 2023, after a large group of motorcycle gang members had taken over a public sidewalk on Newport Avenue for a “Bike Night.” The victims, all Black men ages 19, 20 and 21, were walking down the street when the defendants brutalized them in an unprovoked attack. Despite their efforts to run away, the victims were caught by the defendant group and punched and kicked in the head and body while they lay on the sidewalk as their assailants used racial epithets.

The Hells Angels is an international organization whose primary purpose is the commission of criminal activity and who’s membership has been known to espouse racist ideology.

During that attack, longtime Hells Angels member Troy Scholder, 45, pulled out a knife and stabbed one victim in the chest, fracturing his sternum, severing an artery, and nearly killing him. At the time of the stabbing, the victim had been curled up on the ground, trying to protect his head. After this attempted murder, Mr. Scholder casually folded up his knife, walked away, and returned to the Hells Angels clubhouse in El Cajon where he was later arrested. The victim survived his injuries, as did the second victim who was knocked unconscious.

Thirteen of the defendants pleaded guilty to felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily injury and admitted allegations that they acted for the benefit of, and in association with their gang. Their sentences ranged from formal probation to custody in state prison. Scholder was convicted by a jury of premeditated attempted murder with a hate crime enhancement, along with additional felony charges, and was sentenced to 21 years-to-life in state prison.

The DA’s Gangs Division prosecutes complex murder cases and other serious crimes perpetrated by violent gang members who terrorize neighborhoods. These cases are handled by one prosecutor from beginning to end – also called vertical prosecution. Cases in this division are expertly navigated by 26 prosecutors and 20 investigators to bring justice to families left in the wake of violence. In 2024, the Gangs Division conducted 23 murder jury trials, which is more than 40% of the total murders tried in the DA’s office. The division also prosecuted other cases including kidnapping for rape, assault with great bodily injury, robbery, carjacking and possession of illegal firearms, such as ghost guns, by gang members.

Deputy District Attorney Miriam Hemming prosecuted this case.

DA Weekly News Update with DA Summer Stephan 09-28-23

In this week’s DA News, District Attorney Summer Stephan discusses the grand jury indictments of 17 defendants in connection with a violent attack against three young African American men by members of the Hell’s Angels. Charges include hate crime and gang allegations. Watch more in the video. Read more details about this case, here.

Grand Jury Indicts 17 Hells Angels Defendants for Violent Attack

San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan announced today that 17 defendants have been indicted by a grand jury for their roles in an attack on three men in Ocean Beach this past summer. On June 6, 2023, a group of outlaw Hells Angels motorcycle gang members and their supporters viciously attacked the young men on a public sidewalk.

[WATCH FULL NEWS CONFERENCE OF ANNOUNCEMENT, HERE]

The victims, all African American men ages 19, 20 and 21, were on Newport Avenue enjoying a night out. Virtually out of nowhere— possibly because one of the men spoke to a biker’s girlfriend— they were chased and attacked by several Hells Angels and Hells Angels supporters. They were repeatedly called a racial epithet and told they didn’t belong in the neighborhood.

One victim ran and escaped injury. Another victim was punched and kicked all over his body. The beating only stopped after he was sucker punched in the head and knocked unconscious. The third man was also beaten by multiple bikers and left helpless, curled up on the ground. Longtime Hells Angels leader, Troy Scholder, pulled out a knife, rolled the victim onto his side, and stabbed him in the chest, cracking the young man’s sternum. After trying to kill the victim, Mr. Scholder casually folded up his knife and walked away. The young man survived his injuries.

“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 DA Stephan. “It is a testament to the cooperation and coordination of our law enforcement partners, working closely with our Gangs Division, that these defendants were identified and are being brought to face justice.”

The crime kicked off a large-scale investigation by the San Diego Police Department and the District Attorney’s Gang Unit. Deputy District Attorney Miriam Hemming and District Attorney Investigators Ross Umstot and Bryan Maddox worked relentlessly with SDPD to identify all the attackers and convene a grand jury. On September 13, after hearing six days of testimony, the grand jury returned indictments against 14 defendants for assault likely to cause great bodily injury— all with a gang allegation and 11 of them with a hate crime allegation. The grand jury added three additional defendants because the trio helped drive the stabber from the scene and back to the Hells Angels Clubhouse in El Cajon.

“These disgusting hate-driven attacks have no place in our community. There is no stronger way to condemn this violence than to hold the perpetrators accountable to the fullest force of the law,” said San Diego Police Chief David Nisleit. “We committed every necessary resource to track down and arrest each person who was involved in these wanton acts of violence. I want to thank our detectives who solved this case, our partner law enforcement agencies for their help, and the District Attorney’s Office for their tireless work.”

All 17 defendants were arrested on September 21. Law enforcement seized 42 illegal firearms, as well as illegal drugs. Arraignments occurred today for the defendants. If convicted of all charges, the defendants face a range of possible sentences from three years to life in prison. A readiness hearing is set for November 3 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 1102 of the Superior Court downtown. Trial is currently set for November 14 in Department 102.

Several agencies worked together on the investigation and subsequent arrests, including the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, El Cajon Police Department, Escondido Police Department, Chula Vista Police Department, La Mesa Police Department, Oceanside Police Department, National City Police Department and the Narcotics Task Force. The DA’s Office also received assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The Hells Angles are an international outlaw motorcycle gang with chapters across California and an active chapter in San Diego County. They gain strength in numbers by developing support or puppet clubs, including at least five in San Diego. The Hells Angels profit by trafficking in guns and drugs, as evidenced by search warrants executed last Thursday netting 35 firearms. In addition to running guns and drugs, the Hells Angels have been well-known to have a virulent streak of racism, demonstrated by their pervasive use of Nazi symbols and images.

In a separate case, the District Attorney’s Gangs Unit is also prosecuting a recent Hells Angels President for another unprovoked attack on a former Hells Angels associate at a crowded IHOP restaurant in Clairemont. That attack left the victim with broken bones in his face.

[WATCH FULL NEWS CONFERENCE OF ANNOUNCEMENT, HERE]