Two suspected gang members to be arraigned

The arraignment for an accused Hells Angel member suspected of participating in a late July brawl in a Newport Beach bar was rescheduled for next week, at the same time and in the same courthouse as another suspected Hells Angel member who is expected to enter his plea for the same fight as well.

Rodrigo Requejo, 34, of Rancho Santa Margarita, is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 18 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach on charges of felony assault and battery and street terrorism for allegedly taking part in a July 27 fight at Blackie’s By the Sea bar in Newport Beach.

Prosecutors claim Requejo, along with at least three other suspected Hells Angels members, brawled with members of the Set Free Soldiers, a rival biker gang claiming to be a Christian ministry, according to police.

According to an affidavit seeking a search warrant related to the fight, authorities said more than a dozen of the Set Free Soldiers set up members of the Hells Angels outlaw biker gang, including Requejo, inside the Newport Beach bar. The Hells Angels members were confronting Set Free Soldier leader, Phillip Aguilar, among others, about the group claiming to be associated with the Hells Angels, according to the affidavit.

One of the Hells Angels threw the first punch and then chaos briefly ensued, witnesses said. Police said two members of the Hells Angels were stabbed and one Set Free Soldier had a billiard ball smashed into his head.

Requejo’s scheduled arraignment coincides with the arraignment of fellow suspected Hells Angel member Brian Heslington of Costa Mesa. Several members of the Set Free Soldiers are expected to be arraigned the week after.

— Joseph Serna