Hells Angels leader in San Diego sentenced to 25 years in prison

A leader of the San Diego chapter of the Hells Angels was sentenced Friday to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple felonies, including solicitation of murder.

Stephen Sanders, 44, pleaded guilty to kidnapping, robbery, solicitation to commit murder and assault with force likely to cause great bodily injury. He was sentenced in San Diego County Superior Court by Judge Robert O’Neill.

San Diego County Dist. Atty. Bonnie Dumanis said Sanders had planned “to have witnesses and law enforcement officers killed.”

During his trial, Sanders admitted that he kidnapped two people for the benefit of the Hells Angels, which is defined as a criminal street gang under California law. Sanders was president of the gang’s San Diego chapter at the time, Dumanis said.

“This violent criminal has been permanently removed from our streets and San Diego is a safer place,” said William Sherman, special agent in charge of the San Diego office of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

As part of a plea bargain, Sanders waived his right to appeal his sentence, authorities said.

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tony.perry@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATsandiego