TYLER, Texas — The national president of an outlaw motorcycle gang will go to trial again in January for accusations of giving orders that led to the shooting death of an East Texas motorcyclist four years ago.
Kevin Dale Higgins, 57, of Kemp, is charged with directing activities of a criminal street gang charge, which is a first-degree felony.
On Friday, a mistrial was declared after a jury could not come to a unanimous decision during his first trial in the 114th District Court. Now, another trial is to begin on Jan. 13, court officials said Tuesday.
He is the national president of the Ugly Man Cossacks (an outlaw motorcycle gang). He is one of two people in the gang leadership accused of giving orders that investigators say caused the May 2, 2020 death of Brandon Edwards, 33, of Ben Wheeler, and other crimes, according to arrest documents.
Chad Michael Crowell, of Eustace, a national sergeant at arms of the Ugly Man Cossacks, is also charged with directing activities of a criminal street gang and has yet to go to trial.
One of the Ugly Man Cossacks, who was found guilty in Edwards' death, said Crowell informed them of the "smash on site" order (a directive to commit violent acts) against the 1%er Cossacks. However, based on an understanding of the "club's operating procedure," they believed the order ultimately came from Higgins, the affidavit read.
Edwards, a rank-holding member of the local 1%er Cossacks, was chased by three Ugly Man Cossacks members and shot to death on FM 850 in Chapel Hill in 2020. Joshua Ray Tibbits, of Waco, Jose Antonio Valenzuela, of Longview, and Jeffery Ryan Griffin, of Robinson, have been sentenced to prison for engaging in organized crime in connection with Edwards' death.
Tibbits was found guilty and sentenced to 45 years, while Valenzuela and Griffin pleaded guilty and received 22-year prison sentences each.
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