Posted on 11/10/2015 6:51:16 PM PST by don-o
A Texas grand jury returned indictments Tuesday against 106 of the 177 people who were arrested after a shootout between cops and members of two motorcycle clubs left nine people dead at a Waco restaurant in May.
The McLennan County grand jury returned true bills accusing the 106 suspects of engaging in organized criminal activity, with the underlying offenses being murder and aggravated assault, District Attorney Abel Reyna said Tuesday night in Waco.
Charges against the 71 other suspects weren't presented Tuesday but will be "at a later time," Reyna said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
Seems to me that if the bikers were all as hellbent on death and mayhem as is alleged, there wouldn’t have been a living cop within a hundred yards of Twin Peaks about ten minutes after the shooting started.
Why would anyone in their right mind ever come within 100 miles of Waco?!
Abel Reyna.. I predict no political future for him.
Last fall.. (old news I guess)
McLennan County: DA Loses Nearly Quarter Of Staff Since January
Prosecutor dispute uncovers alleged deal to bury 2 DWI cases
seems like he’s willing to do whatever he can to keep his reputation pristine..
Look out, Texas.
Brawl? That’s what it was? A brawl?
I am not a fan of biker gangs but I would like to know - were all those shot, shot by cops. I think if all the killed and wounded were shot by cops then as a defense lawyer I could get my guys off on that fact alone.
The people charged, are charged with conspiracy. This charge applies (assuming the evidence supports it) even if there was no fight at all. The fact that the police shot all the bank robbers, as a hypothetical example, does not mean that there was no conspiracy to rob a bank - the getaway driver can still be charged.
“were all those shot, shot by cops”
...
Well, I have no desire to engage in arguments; but since no one else has responded to your valid question . . .
there has been biker testimony since day 2, that bikers shot bikers. The first account was https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/richie-died-then-diesel-then-dog-an-eyewitness-to-the-waco-biker-brawl/2015/05/23/00db6436-1a8a-469b-9d6f-d2283234d281_story.html
It was discounted at the time because the source was anonymous. But since then, there have been other bikers whose interviews have stated roughly the same sequence of events.
The forth to die, a Bandido affiliate known as Candyman, was allegedly shot by a Cossack.
This is hearsay, but some bikers have been willing to be interviewed and have given poignant testimony.
So no, I do not think it reasonable to accept that all were shot by cops.
Respectfully, etc.
No one else has responded with the detailed accounting, so no, not all bikers who were there were arrested. Members of several clubs were not arrested; members of one club had their arrests cancelled and were then un-arrested.
It is not true that everyone there was arrested.
It is not true that every biker there was arrested.
Now, to the indictments. It is interesting to me, that members of several clubs who were arrested, have not been (yet, of course, there is another Grand Jury meeting next week) indicted.
The Grim Guardian members who were arrested, not (yet anyway) indicted.
The members of the Vice Grips, ditto.
The members of Distorted, ditto. [The story of the English couple has been previously discussed.]
The members of Los Pirados, ditto. [The story of the Lynch couple has been previously discussed. The female Lynch is the one who reserved the T.P. patio for the Confederation meeting. However, the Cossacks and their affiliates occupied it long before the meeting was scheduled.]
The Weaver couple also not (yet anyway) indicted. Their story has also been previously posted.
Just the facts, however one might interpret them.
What a legal disaster. They will all claim self defense. There won’t be 10 convictions out of this.
Not sure what that would mean in light of the rubber stamp that the GJ used here in the case of those who were not excused at the start. They said they were doing it in two batches. Everyone in the first batch got rubber stamped it appears.
Not sure what it means, either.
The ones “rubber stamped” in the 10 Nov indictments seem to be the middle ground Cossacks and Bandidos etc. But not all members of those clubs or close affiliates have been indicted yet.
The members of the clubs I mentioned, with apparently less gang affiliation, hopefully will be “no billed” rather than just have the six months expire.
Looks like some of the bad guys will come before the next Grand Jury.
I don't think any of these charges include use of force. For the cases that don't involve use of force, self-defense doesn't come into play.
Not only does this look like a pretty unhealthy bunch, but not many of them look like teenagers. A lot look old enough to “know better” if they in fact are influencing younger people in life choices. I certainly would not want my son or my daughter hanging with that bunch, and I have a son in Special Forces. These are not people who were arrested as individuals, they were all hanging around together when 9 people were killed. As to whether law enforcement from roof tops shot some or all, forensic analysis of bullet trajectories should answer that.
The rule for what is considered good enough evidence to have a trial is considerably looser than for what evidence is likely to pass muster in the trial. Maybe this is, effectually, a focus on visible club affiliation. Someone is claiming to have evidence that there were some conspiratory plans for the clubs to fight.
Biker clubs don’t go down easy, however, with their outlaw reputation against the “man,” and there may be demands for 100+ trials. Plus the usual problems proving nebulous conspiracies.
That might apply when asked why they brought weapons, though...
I don't think so, for two reasons. First, possession of a weapon doesn't require any justification under self defense, unless the weapon was used to project force.
But also, if a defendant admits to bringing a weapon because he expected trouble, that plays directly into the charge of conspiracy.
A better reason for having a weapon on you is that it is your normal practice, and while it might be used in a self defense situation, one hopes that situation never occurs. "Habit."
I do agree, for those who are charged with using force or threatening force (for example by brandishing), self defense has play.
What I mean of course is the second line. General self defense, not particular.
Second Emergent Motion to Vacate Gag Order Based on Abelino Reyna's Unclean Hands.
FN2 Could Mr. Clendennen then thumb his nose at the gag order and hold a press conference announcing that his indictment is, in fact, a travesty of justice and questioning how any fair and impartial grand jury could possible consider 106 motorcyclist cases in one day (on average only approximately five minutes per case)? Clearly that would violate the gag order.
I can picture Reyna going ballistic, as Broden uses court filings in lieu of press conferences, and gets approximately the same statements "out."
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.