2 men plead guilty in 2008 Las Vegas chapel melee
Two men pleaded guilty Friday in an attack at a downtown Las Vegas wedding chapel on rivals of the Hells Angels motorcycle club.
John Merchant and James Sexey admitted to coercion and battery resulting in substantial bodily harm with the intent to promote, further or assist the activities of a criminal gang in connection with the December 2008 brawl at A Special Memory Wedding Chapel on Fourth Street and Gass Avenue.
Authorities have said the melee injured at least six people, including three members of the Mongols biker gang, two of whom were stabbed.
It was unclear whether Merchant and Sexey, the last two defendants in the case who had not pleaded guilty or died, were still members of the Hells Angels.
They face between two and 10 years in prison at a sentencing in June.
In all, 13 men were charged with bludgeoning three Mongols and three others during the melee. As the Hells Angels were leaving a wedding ceremony of their own, they saw three Mongols at the chapel for another wedding.
The 13 men attacked the Mongols, hitting them with their fists, feet, bottles and trash cans.
Prosecutors called it an unprovoked attack.
Defense lawyers had said their clients were acting in self-defense because Mongols had months earlier attacked and killed a Hells Angel in San Francisco.
One of the defendants, John Dawson, has since died. He had pleaded guilty to battery charges prior to his death.
Others have pleaded guilty. Some have been sentenced to prison, others to probation.
Contact reporter David Ferrara at dferrara@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-1039. Find him on Twitter: @randompoker
