An alleged member of a Pasco County outlaw motorcycle gang, in jail for a 2015 attempted murder, is asking the court to free him, claiming unconstitutional imprisonment and excessive bail.
Largo resident Joseph O’Donnell is a 42-year-old New York native currently at the Pinellas County Jail awaiting trial.
O’Donnell, a day laborer for Labor Ready, was arrested Dec. 23, 2015, on charges of attempted first-degree murder, aggravated assault and tampering with physical evidence.
In a Jan. 4, 2017 petition for writ of habeas corpus, O’Donnell – who filed a handwritten form without the help of an attorney – claimed he was unmarried with one dependent. O’Donnell also said he was responsible for child support.
O’Donnell is asking the court to discharge him from jail because he has been “unlawfully imprisoned.” He argues both bail and bond amounts are “excessive,” unconstitutional, and out of his financial reach.
In police reports on the incident, as well as a Facebook post by the Largo Police, O’Donnell — known as “Spook” — is an “associate of the Legends Motorcycle Club in Pasco.”
Just before Christmas 2015, Allen Frye and Frank Bagnuolo allegedly visited O’Donnell at his Largo home to pick up some “patches.” At the time, O’Donnell lived at 705 Sixth Ave. NE, Apt. B. An argument ensued, when O’Donnell allegedly pulled a 9 mm gun, shooting Frye in the face. He then pointed the gun at Bagnuolo, who told the story to police while at Bayfront Medical Center.
Police also interviewed Joseph Ingleston, who was O’Donnell’s roommate, and Lori Forsey (Frye’s mother).
A May 2015 Tampa Bay Times article says “outlaw” motorcycle gangs are “still prevalent” throughout the Tampa Bay area: “… many of their members have day jobs, running tattoo shops, strip clubs or tow yards. A few are said to be lawyers or even doctors.”
