Indicted for kidnapping and murdering Robert Huggins: Mark Dencklau, Earl Fisher, Tiler Pribbernow, Malachi Watkins
Indicted for kidnapping and murdering Robert Huggins: Mark Dencklau, Earl Fisher, Tiler Pribbernow, Malachi Watkins

The six people associated with the Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club arrested last week in connection with the kidnap and murder of former club member Robert "Bobby" Huggins last year were officially indicted by a grand jury yesterday. Four people, seen above, are accused of the actual kidnap and murder, among other charges. All but one were arraigned this morning at the Justice Center.

The group's NE MLK headquarters and an adjoining property were also raided and searched early this morning by the Portland Police Bureau's Special Emergency Reaction Team, the Oregon State Police SWAT team, and the Washington County Sheriff's Office Tactical Negotiation Team as part of an ongoing investigation that is expected to yield more arrests.

Authorities say Huggins was kidnapped from Northeast Portland last June 30, killed, and them dumped in a field in rural Clark County, Washington. Loggers found his dead body early in the morning on July 1.

"He was essentially tortured to death," a source told the Mercury.

Here are the indictments, followed by what the Mercury reported about accused people in our story published Wednesday.

Mark Dencklau
Mark Dencklau

Mark Dencklau: murder (two counts), criminal conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree (two counts), criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the first degree (two counts), and solicitation to commit kidnapping in the first degree (two counts). Here's what we reported about Dencklau:

Mark Dencklau, 56, is, or was, the president of the Portland Gypsy Jokers, according to a 2007 press release from a biker-friendly lawyer who successfully sued the City of Portland on behalf of the Jokers after a failed 2004 police raid at the club's NE MLK headquarters.

"The club had to take a stand," Dencklau said in the release. "We need to tell the police that we won't be treated as second-class citizens. We won't sit by and be their target anymore."

According to court records, Dencklau has one felony conviction, for possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute


Earl Fisher
Earl Fisher

Earl Fisher: murder (two counts), criminal conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree (two counts), criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the first degree (two counts), and solicitation to commit kidnapping in the first degree (two counts). This is what we reported about Fisher:

Earl Fisher, 46—a large, bearded grandfather—has lived in Portland his entire life. He's also amassed quite a rap sheet, with five felony and four misdemeanor convictions, and seven parole violations. His most recent non-driving bust was in 2009 when he was convicted on two counts of unlawful use of a weapon.


Tiler Pribbernow
Tiler Pribbernow

Tiler Pribbernow: murder (two counts), criminal conspiracy to commit murder, solicitation to commit murder, kidnapping in the first degree (two counts), criminal conspiracy to commit kidnapping in the first degree (two counts), and solicitation to commit kidnapping in the first degree (two counts). Here's what we reported about Pribbernow:
Tiler Pribbernow, 34, is an Iraq War veteran and a methamphetamine addict. He was already in jail when the sweep happened last week, after a March arrest on meth possession and gun charges. He has at least eight prior felony and four misdemeanor convictions.

Pribbernow's been in the news before—most recently for a 2015 police chase that started in Oregon and ended in Vancouver. Cops discovered stolen license plates in his car, and booked him for driving under the influence of drugs, reckless endangerment, and eluding police.

He was also prominently featured in a 2007 Willamette Week story for having shot a man, Kent Kotsovos, in Northeast Portland. He was arrested for attempted murder in 2005, but a grand jury said it was self-defense. Per the story, "Pribbernow told police Kotsovos stepped out of the car and reached under his belt. Pribbernow grabbed a 9mm handgun from his dashboard and shot him in the face, chest, and arm. 'I made it through the war without getting shot or killed,' Pribbernow told police. 'I sure wasn't going to die right here in the street by my house.'"

Pribbernow is Facebook friends with Huggins, whom he's now accused of helping to kill.


Malachi Watkins
Malachi Watkins

Malachi Watkins: murder, kidnapping in the first degree, criminal conspiracy to commit kidnap in the first degree (two counts). A source connected with the investigation tells the Mercury that Watkins wasn't actually a member of the Gypsy Joker Motorcycle Club, but he knew people who were. Here's what we reported about Watkins:
Malachi Watkins, 32, is from Camas, Washington. He's been in prison in Washington after his 2015 arrest for failing to register as a sex offender and witness tampering. Among other convictions, he pled guilty to three counts of child molestation and one count of incest, per a 2009 Marysville Globe story.

Ron Thompson, 51, pictured below, was also indicted for hindering prosecution (two counts) and tampering with physical evidence. Kendra Castle, 43, was indicted for hindering prosecution. They both entered not guilty pleas this morning.

Ronald Thompson
Ronald Thompson

The Mercury plans to keep up with this story. Know of anything? Email doug@portlandmercury.com.