Jay Friedricksen : “Unlawful Recruitment to G.I. Motorcycle Club Case Heads to Trial”

In a recent development, Jay Friedricksen, a 33-year-old Grand Island resident, has decided to waive his preliminary hearing on felony charges linked to coercing a teenager into joining a local motorcycle club.

Friedricksen now faces charges of aiding and abetting a class IIA felony, unlawful membership recruitment, and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking. The allegations stem from incidents involving the coercion of a young individual to join the club against their will.

According to an arrest affidavit, a series of burglaries occurred in Grand Island between January 22 and February 19, where three construction businesses had their trailers broken into, resulting in the theft of numerous tools valued at an estimated $11,480.

The case took a significant turn on February 21 when Grand Island police intercepted a speeding vehicle on South Locust Street. The driver, identified as 18-year-old Jeronimo Gutierrez, was found in possession of a substantial quantity of stolen construction tools within his vehicle.

Further investigations revealed that Gutierrez had stolen the tools as part of an initiation process to join a local motorcycle club, allegedly under the direction of Friedricksen, who was later identified as the club’s president. Subsequent inquiries led authorities to the club’s premises.

On February 23, a search warrant was executed at the clubhouse, resulting in the discovery of club merchandise and additional stolen tools, as detailed in the affidavit.

In light of these developments, Gutierrez faces two charges of theft by unlawful taking exceeding $5,000, while Friedricksen has opted to forego a preliminary hearing, setting the stage for the case to proceed to district court. Friedricksen is scheduled for arraignment at Hall County District Court on June 25 at 9 a.m.

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