Dinner for Hells Angels likely to add to sentence

In a case of be careful of who you cook pasta for, a Spokane marijuana grower faces a potentially longer prison term because of his culinary association with known members of the Hells Angels biker gang.

Patrick D. Bozarth Jr., 31, pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court to conspiracy to grow marijuana, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in prison. The case could have been prosecuted under more lenient state statutes, but was sent to federal authorities because of his association with the Spokane chapter of the Hells Angels.

Bozarth’s attorney said his client, who does not belong to the Hells Angels but helped out with a member’s grow operation, once cooked a pasta dinner for the biker gang – which was enough of an association to charge the drug case under federal statutes.

Since Bozarth has no criminal record, he likely will receive far less time in jail at his sentencing, which U.S. District Court Judge Robert Whaley set for Nov. 3 at 10 a.m.

Defense attorney Frank Cikutovich said Bozarth had his own medical marijuana growing operation but also helped Hells Angels member Michael R. Fitzpatrick, 33, with his Spokane-area marijuana growing operation. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty earlier this month to two drug charges and is likely facing about six years in prison at his sentencing in October.