Christie Relatives’ Case Ends

A criminal case against the daughter of Hells Angels leader George Christie Jr. was resolved Tuesday as prosecutors dismissed a felony count of conspiracy and reduced a grand theft charge to a misdemeanor.

Ventura County Superior Court Judge Art Gutierrez then stayed the misdemeanor charge, putting an end to the case against lawyer Moriya Christie and her husband, Layne Bell.

“This was an appropriate resolution to a difficult case,” defense attorney August Brescia said after the hearing.

The couple were indicted on criminal charges 10 months ago on suspicion of making a false statement on a loan document when purchasing a Ventura home in 1997.

Prosecutors alleged the couple never intended to live in the Mission Plaza house and lied on financial documents to secure a lower interest rate, indicating the property would be their primary residence. Moriya Christie’s grandmother lives there.

In court papers, defense attorneys argued that the couple had been unfairly swept up in an investigation targeting Christie’s father, who is accused of running a gang that bought stolen drugs from an Air Force clinic and sold them to teenagers in Ojai and Ventura.

In February, 16 defendants, including George Christie Jr., his son and ex-wife and several motorcycle gang members, were indicted on drug and racketeering charges. Moriya Christie, who has represented Hells Angels members, and her spouse were charged with conspiracy and grand theft in connection with the purchase of the house in west Ventura. They were not charged with selling drugs.