Four men, three of whom were found members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement

Four men arrested in connection to the non-fatal shooting of a suspected Hells Angels member in November were sentenced in Humboldt County Superior Court Tuesday afternoon to terms ranging from three years in prison to 180 days in jail.
All four men, three of whom were found to be members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, pleaded guilty in a plea agreement offered during their preliminary hearing, after evidence surfaced that the victim -- Robert Thompson -- may have fired first. Deputy District Attorney Ben McLaughlin said although there are no current plans to charge Thompson as a felon in possession of a firearm, the matter is still under investigation. The accused gunman in the case, 28-year-old Mongols gang member Eric Gunner Lundin, was sentenced by Judge Dale Reinholtsen to three years in prison for felony charges of assault with a firearm and participating in a criminal street gang. Lundin's attorney, Glenn Brown, said his client will likely serve “a little over two years.” Dustin Liebes, a 36-year-old who the prosecution named as the president of the area Mongols chapter, was sentenced to one year in jail with five years probation. Shasta County resident Eric Garcia, 28, was also given a one year jail sentence with five years probation. Both men had pleaded guilty to participation in a criminal street gang, and both were granted 110 days time served. Brad Miller, 26, was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 110 days credit.
The prosecution alleged Miller -- who was not part of the gang -- was a prospective member. Miller pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a felony after the fact, but denied attempting to gain entry to the gang. In addition to various fines, Reinholtsen stipulated that none of the men can associate with one another, or wear clothing or patches identifying them as gang members. At the sentencing, Reinholtsen heard defense arguments that it was by happenstance the four men had come face to face with Thompson outside a bar in Old Town Eureka in November, and that evidence shows Thompson fired his handgun at the scene, raising the possibility he fired first. Reinholtsen, who did not hear evidence given at the men's preliminary hearing, said he found it to be “an amazing coincidence” the four men happened across each other.

After sentencing, the four men were returned to the Humboldt County jail.