Hells Angels biker pleads not guilty to drug charges

A Costa Mesa man police say was stabbed twice in a biker brawl in Newport Beach more than two months ago pleaded not guilty in court Wednesday to felony drug charges stemming from a search of his home more than a week later.

Brian Heslington, who turns 36 today, pleaded not guilty to a pair of felony drug charges, a weapons charge and a felony count of street terrorism, related to prosecutors’ assertion he is a member of the Hells Angels biker gang.

On July 27, police say Heslington was one of about five Hells Angels members who met members of a rival biker group, the Set Free Soldiers, inside the Blackie’s By The Sea bar in Newport Beach. Court documents show that the groups were there to discuss Set Free Soldiers members’ claiming affiliation with the Hells Angels. The Set Free Soldiers maintain that they are a Christian ministry and nothing more.

The groups quickly got into a fight, and police say that Heslington was stabbed by members of the Set Free Soldiers.

Heslington’s pretrial hearing is scheduled for Oct. 30.

— Joseph Serna