WASHINGTON, Pa. — A preliminary hearing concluded Thursday with a judge dismissing several charges in a case tied to violent confrontations among rival motorcycle clubs. The hearing, which lasted for over six hours, centered on an assault incident from August at Forty Bar and Grille.
Prosecutors contend that members of the War Dogs Motorcycle Club assaulted a member of the Pagan Motorcycle Club during the altercation. The case involves ten defendants—nine associated with the War Dogs and one Pagan member, who reportedly discharged a firearm into the air outside the venue.
Security was noticeably heightened during the hearing, with approximately 20 sheriff’s deputies present—an unusually significant number for a single case. Testimonies revealed that the victim had been restrained and subjected to physical assaults, including punches, kicks, and attacks with bats. Surveillance footage from the incident was replayed multiple times in court.
A bartender on duty during the incident recounted the chaos, describing how she and others sought refuge in the basement of the establishment after unsuccessfully trying to intervene. Defense counsel argued that the melee began as a personal conflict between two individuals and maintained that others were attempting to de-escalate the situation rather than participate in the assault. The defense also brought up claims that the altercation was provoked by a racial slur from the Pagan member.
Prosecutors alleged that a hand gesture made by one defendant incited the violence, a claim contested by defense attorney Steven Valsamidis. He pointed out that the prosecution’s own expert testified that no established signal associated with the groups exists. According to Valsamidis, the gesture was misinterpreted as an indication to leave, a move his client executed when tensions escalated.
Testimony also addressed the death of Kenneth Hayman, a member of the War Dogs, who was shot and killed months later while riding his motorcycle. Prosecutors assert that Hayman’s death is part of a larger, ongoing rivalry between the two groups, with the killing attributed to three members of the Pagans.
The case was initially sealed, and the defendants were apprehended during a snowstorm early one morning last month. One defense attorney suggested that the sealed affidavits surrounding the case may have contributed to the heightened public interest.
Ultimately, the judge dropped charges related to corrupt organizations and robbery after evidence showed that a firearm taken from the victim during the fray was discarded behind the bar and not stolen. However, other charges remain as the case progresses toward trial.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh expressed disappointment over the dismissal of those charges but emphasized that the proceedings are ongoing. He reiterated his commitment to tackling violent crime in the area.
Defense attorneys, however, interpreted the judge’s decision as validation of their argument. Attorney Casey White remarked that the ruling acknowledged the incident as a personal altercation rather than a gang-related confrontation, suggesting it was a conflict that had escalated beyond its original scope.