Charges dismissed against one suspect in 311 Boyz case

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 | 9:21 a.m.

Charges against one alleged member of the 311 Boyz gang were dismissed and another co-defendant entered a plea agreement on Tuesday in connection with the rock attack that left 17-year-old Stephen Tanner Hansen with a crushed face.

Anthony Gallion, 16, and Ernest Bradley Aguilar, 17, both faced charges of attempted murder, battery and coercion in the July 2003 attack.

Gallion's charges were dismissed without prejudice, meaning prosecutors still could charge Gallion at a later date.

"The prosecutors determined there was no evidence that placed my client in the conspiracy, therefore they dismissed the charges," Karen Winckler, Gallion's attorney, said.

Aguilar entered an Alford plea, which is the equivalent to no contest, to a gross misdemeanor charge of malicious destruction of private property. District Judge Michael Cherry placed Aguilar on probation for up to three years.

Under an Alford plea a defendant does not admit guilt but agrees the state could prove its case.

Aguilar joins fellow alleged 311 Boyz members Brandon Gallion, 16, Christopher Farley, 18, Jeff Hart, 17, Matthew Costello, 18, and Steven Gazlay, 19, in using an Alford plea on charges connected to the Hansen attack.

The dismissal and plea agreement leave only Scott Morse, 18, and Dominic Harriman, 19, as the remaining alleged 311 Boyz members currently facing charges in the case.

Morse and Harriman are scheduled to appear in court on May 25, at which either a trial will begin or plea agreements could be entered.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Laurent was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday. Laurent has said previously the state is working to get plea agreements with all of the alleged 311 Boyz defendants.