Former Hells Angel from Snohomish gets life sentence

Published 10:19 am Thursday, October 18, 2007

SEATTLE — A former Hells Angel interrupted his sentencing in Seattle to complain that he had been railroaded.

But federal Judge Robert Lasnik sentenced Rodney Lee Rollness to life in prison Thursday and told him he could take up his issues on appeal.

In his tirade, Rollness said the judge allowed testimony from paid informants Rollness called liars.

The life sentence was mandatory after the 48-year-old Snohomish man was convicted of fatally shooting Michael “Santa” Walsh in 2001 during a party in rural Snohomish County. Prosecutors said Rollness and another man killed Walsh for pretending to have been a Hells Angels member. For the killing they received a “Filthy Few” patch indicating they had killed for the club.

Rollness was one of three motorcycle club members convicted in June after a 10-week racketeering trial in Seattle.