Whiskey River Murderer was Enforcing Biker Gang Justice

SAN ANGELO, Texas – The punishment phase of the Whiskey River Murder Trial painted a much different picture of the events of the night of Oct. 2, 2022 when two Marines were stabbed and others were beaten severely leaving one dead at the hands of an outlaw motorcycle gang enforcer. 

But just how did the jury get to a sentence of life in prison?

Testimony began with District Attorney John Best telling the jury, "You found him guilty of murder.  What do we do with it?"

Defense Attorney Jason Sosa told jurors, "Your decision will resonate with you the rest of your lives."

Best called San Angelo Police Detective Jason Chegwidden back to the stand to ask about items found during the search of homes belonging to Vera and Raymond Scott who both were involved in the deadly fight.

Best showed the jury pictures of Vera's motorcycle helmet which was covered in Jinetes and Bandito Motorcycle Gang stickers.  He also showed them an image of a dark T-shirt with the SYLB logo for Support Your Local Banditos.  Vera was wearing that shirt under another one when the fight happened.  More on that later.

At Raymond Scott's house on Hassell St., investigators found diamond 13 gear which also represented the outlaw motorcycle gangs.  

During cross examination, Chegwidden explained that one article all gang members have is a vest or 'cut' with the Banditos or Jinetes name and home town and logo.  

Best then called Detective Charles Barker.  Best asked him about photos of a cell phone screen saver which belonged to gang member Anthony Geise which showed him and his girlfriend and Vera and his wife.

Best then called Agent Jeremiah Torrez with the Abilene Police Department.  Torrez schooled the jury on how motorcycle gangs work.  He mentioned the Banditos, Hell's Angels, Sons of Anarchy, the Mongols and others.

Torrez basically said law enforcement have a database of all known gang affiliates and had surveilled Ray Vera.  Torrez said all outlaw motorcycle gangs work basically the same with a President, Vice President, Secretary, Sergeant at Arms and Road Chief.  

Ray Vera was confirmed as the Sergeant at Arms of the San Angelo Jinetes motorcycle club.  His job was to protect the President of that club with his life.  The President was Anthony Geise who threw the first punch in the fight inside Whiskey River.  More on that later.

Torrez explained that the Jinetes was basically a support club for the Banditos much like a triple A baseball team was for a major league team.

Torrez said the Banditos are confirmed to be an outlaw motorcycle gang involved in trafficking drugs and guns, and also involved in prostitution and human trafficking.  The Banditos are notorious for the Twin Peaks shootout in Waco in 2016 the left several people dead including law enforcement officers.

Best then called Andrew Cauwell to the stand.  Cauwell is now a Green Beret in the Army.  He said it was hard to talk about that night. He still has nightmares about seeing bikes and he doesn't socialize much anymore because that night took all the fun out of it. He said he doesn't celebrate his birthday anymore because it is now Bryce "Rudy" Rudisell's day.

After Cauwell, Best called 'Rudy's mother, Tiffany Strickland to the stand.   

Strickland cried on the stand while telling the jury that Bryce's murder was earth shattering.  "He was part of us.  Now he is gone."  She said he loved the Marine Corps and has three younger siblings and that the loss to them is devastating, ridiculous, and awful.  "We don't get to have him anymore."  She cried. 

Best then entered certified copies of the five times Vera has been Judged for crimes including possession of marijuana, theft and DWLI.

Best then rested the state's case.  

After the lunch break, Sosa called Serena Morales to the witness stand.  Morales is Vera's stepdaughter. 

She testified that the family had a good relationship and she considered Vera her dad.  She cried while telling the jury he was a good dad and he worked hard to provide for the family.  

After she finished, Sosa called Ray Vera as his final witness. 

Sosa told the jury that he had discussed with Vera the danger of him taking the stand in his own defense but Vera decided to testify anyway, acknowledging that he was waiving his 5th amendment right not to testify. 

Vera said he didn't start the fight that night but he jumped in when he saw his wife was involved.  He said he didn't know why he went outside when he could have just gone home.  "You took somebody's life; do you understand that?" Sosa asked. "Yes, sir." Vera answered.  Then he hung his head and appeared to cry. 

"I'm very sorry.  It's very tragic.  I'm sorry I overreacted." Vera said.  "It wasn't intentional.  Everything happened so fast.  I have to live with this. I'm deeply sorry." 

Under cross examination, Best asked why he had a switchblade knife.  "I completely forgot I had it.  I use it for work."  Best asked if he stabbed Rudisell, and Hunsberger and kicked Cauwell.  "Yes sir." was the answer to each question. 

Best asked why he told police in his interview that he didn't have a knife, didn't stab anyone and didn't remember anything.  "I was still in shock."  "Everything was going so fast.  It was a blur.  I went home."

The trial recessed so Judge Dusek could finish writing instructions for the jury. 

When the trial reconvened, Judge Dusek read the charge to the jury which said the punishment options for murder were: 1.  five to 99 years or life in prison or 2. five to 99 years or life in prison with a fine of up to $10,000.00. 

The range of punishment for the two Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon charges were: 1.  two to 20 years in prison or 2.  two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.00. 

Then it was time for closing arguments.  The prosecution goes first, then the defense, then the prosecution gets the final closing statement. 

In his first statement, Best thanked the jury for their service and said, "We don't recommend probation."

Sosa said that Vera is a real human being.  Vera's actions were not an act of a gang and that Vera said he was sorry.  

Sosa asked the jury for Justice and Mercy.  

Then it was District Attorney John Best's chance to close out his case.  And what a close out!

Best said you can't believe Ray Vera.  He lied repeatedly to authorities about being in a gang, said he didn't remember then he did, and that he didn't have a knife then he did.  

And then Best went for it: "He was wearing the shirt!"  Video showed Vera took off an outer shirt to reveal his Banditos T-shirt in an attempt to intimidate the Marines just before the fight inside.  

Best said Vera did that because the President of the Jinetes Gang was there celebrating his birthday, Anthony Giese!  Giese threw the first punch and got beat down by the Marines.  Best said Vera was acting as Sergeant at Arms of the gang and protecting Suarez.  And nobody pushes a biker gang president on the dance floor and gets away with it.  

Best said the bikers were getting beat by the Marines inside and had to back off.  They could have just left.  But Vera couldn't stand that and neither could Suarez who took a beer mug, ran outside and struck one of them over the head in a sneak attack.  Then Vera followed, pulled out his switchblade and stabbed Rudisell to death.  

Best told jurors to send a message to the Banditos, the Jinetes, and all outlaw biker gangs that if you do this in Tom Green County, you're' going to pay a price. 

John Best asked the jury for the maximum punishment; life in prison for the murder and 20 years on each of the other two counts. 

The jury then retired to begin deliberations.  

The beautiful, elegant and functional courtroom of the 1920s hasn't adapted well to 21st century technology.  The refined wooden bench in courtroom A on the second floor of the Tom Green County Courthouse is over shadowed by the backs of unsightly flat screen monitors.  A printer and large flat screen TV obscure the simple elegance of the original design.  And according to the judge, the single pane windows so recognizable between the great concrete columns seen from the outside of the front of the building are inefficient and all the sounds from the streets penetrate into the courtroom and interrupt court proceedings.  The mishmash of the old and new is both ungainly and dysfunctional.  But the wheels of justice must keep turning.  

The jury returned to the hushed courtroom after about three hours.  The were fed Chick-fil-a sandwiches for supper.  They returned the verdict of punishment.  

Life in prison for murder.  

20 years in prison for each of the two Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon charges.  

Ray Vera will be credited with 556 days he has already spent in the Tom Green County Jail.