Six plead guilty in 2008 biker melee at Las Vegas wedding chapel

Six defendants, including members of the infamous Hells Angel’s motorcycle club, have agreed to plead guilty to stabbing and beating rival gang members at a downtown wedding chapel in 2008.

On Friday, lawyers for Dominic Orlando, Frederick O’Dell, Brandon Young, James Sexey, John Dawson, and Armando Porras, told District Judge Ken Cory their clients would agree to a plea bargain that would see them plead guilty to battery charges stemming from the melee.

Sexey’s plea deal included a gang enhancement that could add years to a prison term.

Five of the defendants will plead guilty July 26. Porras will plead guilty Aug. 2.

Each faced about a dozen felony and misdemeanor counts, including attempted murder, battery and conspiracy. Their trial was to begin Aug. 5.

Earlier this week co-defendant Jeffrey Murray pleaded guilty to battery with substantial bodily harm with the intent to promote, further or assist the activities of a criminal gang and coercion with force, both felonies.

All of the defendants remained free on bond.

Armando Porras’ lawyer, Chris Rasmussen, said his client is looking forward to putting the case behind him. “We feel we’ve reached a resolution that will allow him to continue the business of building motorcycles,” Rasmussen said.

In all, 13 men were charged with bludgeoning three Mongols during the brawl at A Special Memory Wedding Chapel on Dec. 20, 2008.

Surveillance footage of the brawl shows Hells Angels and others swarming rival gang members at the wedding chapel on Fourth Street and Gass Avenue. Six were injured, including three members of the Mongols.

Hells Angels were attending a wedding ceremony. As they were leaving, at least three Mongols appeared at the chapel for another wedding. The 13 men attacked the Mongols, bludgeoning them with their fists, feet, bottles and trash cans.

Prosecutors called it an unprovoked attack.

Defense lawyers have said their clients were acting in self-defense because Mongols had months earlier attacked and killed a Hells Angel in San Francisco.

Murray, Sexey and co-defendant John Merchant stabbed victims during the brawl, authorities said.

Merchant is set to stand trial Aug. 5.

The five remaining defendants in the case will face similar charges in two separate trials.

Contact reporter Francis McCabe at fmccabe@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039.