Six alleged local gang members in court for felony hearing

By By JOLEEN FERRIS

Story Created: Jul 28, 2010 at 3:49 PM EST

Story Updated: Jul 28, 2010 at 6:28 PM EST

UTICA, N.Y. (WKTV) - Six alleged local gang members were in Utica City Court on Wednesday for a felony hearing during which a judge held their assault cases over for grand jury action and set bail at $30,000 per defendant.

Five of the six defendants are minors, but they were unable to have their parents in court with them. City Court Judge Gerald Popeo closed the courtroom to the public at the prosecution's request, due to threats made to civilian witnesses in this case.

Anyone can watch testimony from official witnesses, but the courtroom is cleared out when civilian witnesses take the stand.

While the hallway outside the courtroom was packed with family members of the six teenage defendants, the courtroom itself was packed with the six defendants, their attorneys and six interpreters, there to translate both Karen and Burmese.

The six are charged with assault stemming from a fight on July 13 at the corner of Eagle Street and Hammond Ave in East Utica. They are allegedly affiliated with the local Asian Boyz gang.

The felony hearing was longer than most, getting underway in Utica City Court around 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, and wrapping up around 7pm.
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