A Wright County case involving a motorcycle gang ended a few weeks ago with five dismissals and one federal prosecution.
The case, dating back to April 2020, involved five people connected to the Sons of Silence Motorcycle Club. According to press release from last summer: The men were accused of surrounding the male rider and his wife at a Clarion convenience store, threatening the victim with violence if he did not hand over his jacket or the patch on his jacket identifying him as belonging to a different motorcycle club.
Charges involving criminal gang participation had been filed against Anthony Jacob Kelley, 37 of Belmond; Chad Robert Simmons, 41 of Latimer; Justin Anthony Carlson, 37 of Sheffield; Daniel Robert Carolus, 43 of Belmond; Cory Dale Woods, 41 of Waverly.
Trial had been scheduled for April, but on March 12, the Wright County Attorney’s Office asked the court to dismiss the cases. According to the motion, “Upon further investigation, the state has determined that there is insufficient evidence to prosecute this charge,”
The state charge was dismissed against Carlson because he had been indicted in U.S. Federal Court in Cedar Rapids for possession of a firearm by a felon. Carlson has pleaded guilty to that crime.
