Second Trial Date Set for Ernesto Gonzalez

An August 2017 re-trial date has been set for the ex-motorcycle gang leader charged with killing a rival gang member during a casino shootout nearly five years ago. 

Washoe District Judge Connie Steinheimer entered not guilty pleas for Ernesto Gonzalez Thursday at the former Vagos leader's arraignment in Reno. She cited lawyers' scheduling conflicts in setting the new trial for Aug. 28, 2017.

The former head of the Nicaraguan chapter of the Vagos gang, 58-year-old Ernesto Gonzalez, was convicted in October of 2013 for the 2011 fatal shooting of Jeffrey Pettigrew. Pettigrew was the president of the Hells Angels in San Jose, California. 

Gonzalez was convicted in October of 2013 and sentenced to up to life in prison. 

In December of 2015, the Nevada Supreme Court threw out his conviction based partly on faulty instructions to the jury.

Prosecutors say the fatal shooting was part of a conspiracy to assassinate Pettigrew.

Gonzalez claims he was trying to protect a fellow Vagos who was nearly beat to death.

(The Associated Press also contributed to this report.)