Opinion ID: 2720490
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Wheeler’s Evidence

Text: Wheeler testified he joined the Family in early 1988. He began selling drugs for Eddie Barber, who ran a semiautonomous ―crew.‖ Later, at Barber‘s direction, Wheeler started working at Wheeler Avenue. James Williams ran Wheeler Avenue, and served as an ―enforcer.‖ 9 On the day of the murders, Wheeler completed his shift at 7:00 a.m. then spent the day with his girlfriend visiting their families in Los Angeles. At 3:00 that afternoon and again at 10:45 that evening, he received a page. In response, Wheeler called Williams who told him not to come to work. Eddie Barber had previously instructed Wheeler to visit Jeff in prison the next day to report about drug operations. Wheeler was unaware of the shootings until he heard about them from Bryant, who was also visiting Jeff. If Wheeler had been involved in the murders he would not have visited Jeff the next day because doing so would have connected Jeff to the murders. If he had been involved, he would have fled, using money he had saved from his drug dealing. All Wheeler knew about Bryant‘s role in the Family was he arranged bail when members were arrested. He had not met codefendant Jon Settle before court proceedings began. Wheeler‘s girlfriend testified that she did not specifically remember what she and Wheeler did on the day of the shootings; they customarily visited family on Sundays.