Biker attorney seeks to replace judges, demands immediate release of clients

Waco Tribune ^ | 5/26/15 | TOMMY WITHERSPOON

[mac_truck]

An attorney for two men arrested in the May 17 Twin Peaks shootout between rival bikers says his clients are being held illegally and is seeking to replace all McLennan County judges connected to the case.

Austin attorney Adam Reposa alleges in motions filed Tuesday that the charging documents filed against his clients, and the 168 others jailed in the chaotic melee, are legally insufficient.

He also claims that the $1 million bonds are unreasonably oppressive and that the judge who set them and the judges who, so far, have not reduced them have shown bias and should be recused.

Reposa represents Jimmy Pond and Thomas Paul Landers. He said Pond, a mechanic from Hays County, is the sole supporter of his family, which includes a disabled wife and autistic son.

Besides the recusal motion, Reposa filed an application for writ of habeas corpus, alleging a client is being held illegally and without proper cause, and a motion for emergency release so Pond can go home and take care of his family.

After the shootout, in which nine were killed and 18 wounded, Reposa said officials “commandeered” the Waco Convention Center as a makeshift holding area while they tried to sort out the magnitude of the event.

[rawcatslyentist]

>"I guess they have figured out that the ‘police mass execution’ dog doesn’t hunt anymore."

They shot all the dogs at the Branch Davidian's place a few decades ago!

[mac_truck]

One of the 170 is a retired 32 year veteran police detective of the San Antonio police dept. He had been driving a school bus in retirement ( a job that requires an extensive background check and spotless driving record). If you want to believe he was a bad cop and a hardened criminal biker go ahead but I would suggest doing more homework.

Lol...Martin Lewis bragged about being a 1%er on social media and is a known SA Bandido which is a recognized outlaw MC. How he managed to stay on the San Antonio police force and affiliated with them is anyone's guess...but I sure wouldn't want a creep like that driving my kids to school.

We have also had many members of law enforcement and those in the justice system from outside of Waco stating something is clearly wrong with the events in Waco and both the police and the courts are acting in a manner not consistent in any way with proper legal process.

I've seen nothing in the media like that, so if you've got some sources please share them.

[Lazamataz]

Doesn’t it concern you that these motorcycle gangs are growing?

You are a continual FOUNTAIN of trolling.

Motorcycle gangs are not growing at a rate that merits concern. If you want to be concerned about gang growth, focus your OCD on South American gangs: MS13, SUR13, and the like.

Today they control the peaceful riding clubs. Tomorrow?

You are just weird.

[edpc]

I’m thinking I should laugh at that comparison, but I can’t

[archy]

Standard training for all carry. Do you carry with your trigger finger in the guard?

Depends on what I'm carrying. For the last year and a half I was in Israel, where I mostly carried a S-TAR/ Tavor. And couldn't carry it with my finger in the trigger guard, 'cause they don't have one.

The other two rifles I was likely to be found carrying were either an M16A1, which, by the way while I was in the Army was most usually carried with the finger in the trigger guard because the *modern technique* with the trigger finger straightfingered along the side of the receiver didn't come along until around 1975 and was first taught at Gunsite in class 76-1. There were two Secret Service instructors in that class, and they immediately took much of what they'd learned back with them for adoption by the USSS: Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target.

The other rifle I used was a Kar 98 Mauser in 7,92x57mm, and it was almost always carried slung, because I was either carrying four 250-round ammo cans of linked rounds for the MG34 light MG still in use at the kibbutz where I was staying, or I was hauling the '34 itself.

So the short answer is: sometimes, probably mostly, but not always.

[Smokin' Joe]

No, it is the courts who keep bail if someone skips out.

Still, police, prosecutors, judges, and on occasion privately owned prisons all can benefit, depending on local laws and whether the prison has been farmed out to a commercial entity, if for no other reason than the budget increase.

While some jurisdictions have safeguards which should eliminate conflicts of interest, in others department budgets get a piece of the revenue from seizures, and I can think of one jurisdiction where a judge was a part owner of the jail.

I do not believe the high bail amounts are so much for revenue as to sequester everyone at the scene.

That way, the police can control the media narrative from the start.

We both know the headlines come early in the cycle of any story, the retractions will be in fine print next to the legal notices. By then, most media will have dropped the 'stale' news and be on to some other story.

What I find distressing is that people here are cheerleading what (for those who are not members of the clubs involved) are charges and bail amounts that are out of proportion to bail or charges for any other event in the US.

The assumption by some here that the presence of anyone at the Coalition of Clubs meeting makes them party to the day to day actions of anyone else there who might be involved in criminal activities, not only flies in the face of the presumption of innocence, but would set a dangerous precedent for anyone who has been in the same room with a Democrat politician.

[Hugh the Scot]

Also when provoking an outbreak of violence...

[archy]

Nine dead, scores shooting their weapons on a Sunday afternoon at a family shopping center is a rumble?

Nah. It's more likely a deprivation of civil rights under color of law.

TITLE 18, United States Code, U.S. Criminal Code, §ection 242: Deprivation of rights under color of law

Whoever, under color of any law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom, willfully subjects any person in any State, Territory, Commonwealth, Possession, or District to the deprivation of any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States, ... shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both;
and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnaping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death.

[Hugh the Scot]

I personally participate in the annual toy runs. Can’t recall any involvement with hookers and meth tho...

Maybe your brush is a little wider than necessary.

[edpc]

Or perhaps I grew up in Maryland where The Pagans participated in every activity mentioned and then some.

[Hugh the Scot]

That’s what I said: “Maybe your brush is a little wider than necessary.”

This thread is filled with your accusations against other FReepers of cop-hating.

You must not own a damn mirror.

[edpc]

What an utterly stupid post. Please show me where I accuse someone of being a cop hater. I clearly stated they have no evidence of their declarations. There’s a huge difference.

[Hugh the Scot]

I wasn’t quoting, therefore I have no intention of reading through all that garbage again. You say you didn’t say that; it’s good enough for me.

Doesn’t change the fact that you use the same tactics in smearing all organized bikers as some kind of monolithic criminal organization, that you’ve accused others of using in condemning the police response and apparent 3-letter agency involvement.

...Back to my post that apparently started this pi**ing contest: Maybe your brush is a little wider than necessary.

[edpc]

I'm pretty sure I didn't accuse all bikers of anything. You know a good number of undesirable elements are going to be present at these events, they don't get along well, and odds are better than average that violence can occur. It's perfectly logical to ask the questions I originally posed.

I'd be willing to bet if this had occurred at a rap festival many of the people giving me grief would be in complete agreement.

[Hugh the Scot]

You could be right in your hypothetical, I just don’t know.

I do know I read quite a bit of assumption of guilt because “Biker gangs” in this thread & coming from you...

To save you the trouble of demanding an example, see your post #35.

That was the reason for my comment regarding painting with a wide brush, my point of entry into this discussion, and the source of my interest in continuing... Which has passed.

FReegards,

[edpc]

You came in the middle of a conversation, so let me explain the comment. Someone had said to me that the police could, in the future, use the same tactics and justification on the tea party.

The problem is there's no history of criminal activity or violence in any tea party gathering. There is however plenty of history when it comes to outlaw biker gangs. We also know they participate in events like the toy run. Part but not all of their motive there is image management. Those are just known facts not an indictment of all people who participate in the toy run or cycling.

My reply was sardonic to show the absurdity of comparing the tea party to outlaw gangs. Without context it is easy to misunderstand.

[AMDG&BVMH]

“This reeks of an ambush.”

I have done a lot of rereading of information since this thread was live. It seems clear, it WAS an ambush, by the Bandidos against the Cossacks. From three to five Cossacks were shot by Bandidos. Then LE opened fire to protect gang members from members of other gangs.

Sources are widely available. Many, including analysis, are posted by conservativetreehouse. Read all the details with an open, inquiring mind.

No I do not think gang members were firing on cops. After reading and rereading all this several times, cops fired to protect the public at large, many of whom were gang members. If the cops had not been there, what would the body count have been? If the cops were there for a true turkey shoot, what would the body count have been? No one knows, but it is worth reflecting upon.

The cops were outnumbered approx. 10 to 1. That is not good odds. Yet they showed up to limit the carnage and according to some testimony, including that of a mother whose son was killed in the melee, the cops saved lives by being there, which is why they were there.

The bulk of the details thus far, shows 3 to 5 Cossacks and allies killed by Bandidos.

Don’t trust the Cossack testimony? If there were three bodies in the parking lot which match the names of the three Cossacks he observed were shot by Bandidos there, his testimony is accurate. Meaning, it was a set up by the Bandidos against the Cossacks, and LE merely limited the carnage. So please let me know of contradictory evidence.

I know there are people out there who will call people names for posting something like this. But I have read the reports, and the above scenario cannot be dismissed — especially since the detractors of these accounts have nothing more to offer than “the cops did it.”

[truth_seeker]

Your #417 is a well thought out analysis of the available information.

It should signal something, that Gov. Abbott, Sen. Cruz remain silent and let Waco LE and judiciary do their work. The sheer magnitude of arrests and crime scene make it a challenge.

Maybe the benefit in the future will be “good guy” individuals and groups, will be less inclined to associate, lend respectability and cover, to “bad guy” groups.

Good guy groups defined like veterans, military, recovery, Christian etc.

Bad guy groups defined like outlaw, 1%, past incidents of violence, etc. IOW like Hell’s Angels, Mongols, Hessians, Banditos, etc. And apparently Cossacks, Scimiters, etc.

We know there have been clashes between Banditos and Cossacks in recent time.

I believe there can be good guys, in bad guy groups. But those good guys are not particularly bright, IMO.

[Smokin' Joe]

Well, you are entitled to your opinion, but I'm waiting for more evidence.

Interesting you'd call in the troops to render your opinion.

[mac_truck]

Concurring bump...

One can only imagine how things might have escalated if the police weren’t there to squash it.