Bail Reduced For Three Hells Angels Accused Of Intimidating Prosecutor During Trial

Thu., June 13, 1996

By Bill Morlin billm@spokesman.com

A Spokane County judge Wednesday reduced the bail for three Hells Angels and two of their associates accused of intimidating a prosecutor and witnesses in a recent murder trial.

One day after an 80-officer task force made the arrests, Superior Court Judge Robert Austin set bail in amounts ranging from $5,000 to $35,000. Bail for each of the defendants was initially set at $100,000.

Accused of intimidating a prosecutor who handled the murder trial are: Richard A. Fabel, 39; Michael L. Cultis, 49; Joe E. Dye, 35; and Michael L. Wooster, 39.

The charges are related to alleged threats made to Deputy Prosecutor David Hearrean and witnesses who testified against Hells Angel Timothy Myers at his murder trial this spring.

The alleged acts of intimidation involved telephone threats to Hearrean and his wife’s former place of employment. They also involve a confrontation the couple claims it had with a group of Hells Angels in the Mars restaurant in downtown Spokane.

Myers, secretary of the Spokane Hells Angels chapter, was acquitted of murder but now faces a charge of intimidating a witness who testified against him.

Defense attorney Bevan Maxey appeared at Wednesday’s hearing, representing Myers and Fabel, who is president of the Hells Angels chapter.

Maxey said the prosecution’s evidence against the five consists of nothing more than somebody looking at somebody, or a chance meeting in a restaurant.

“They said, ‘He looked at me,’ and now these intimidation charges are filed,” Maxey said.

But special prosecutor Rocco Treppiedi told the judge the threats constitute a “serious and dangerous” attack on the judicial system.

Treppiedi said Hearrean and his wife, Carol, were “stalked, followed and confronted.”

“This is not a social club, your honor,” Treppiedi told the judge. “This is an outlaw gang.”

Treppiedi asked that bail for each of the five remain at $100,000, as set by Judge Michael Donahue, who signed the arrest warrants.

Austin reduced bail for Wooster and Dye, who are associates of the Hells Angels, to $35,000 each. The bail for Cultis was reduced to $25,000. Bail for Myers and Fabel was dropped to $15,000 and $5,000, respectively.

Fabel and Wooster also face drug charges stemming from searches at their homes Tuesday.

Sandra E. Padrta, 38, of Spokane was arrested during the raids. She is charged with felony drug possession.

, DataTimes

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