Cotter's account of the events at O'Shucks were similar to the accounts of bar employees and patrons, who said bar manager James Ballesteros was dragged out of the bar in a headlock. While one of the men held the door shut to keep patrons and employees from rushing to his aid, the others beat and kicked Ballesteros black and blue.

Cotter also testified to taking part in the beating of a Native American man outside the Port O' Call bar in March 2003 with Massey. He testified that Massey told him he had a particular hatred for Native Americans and the two plotted to lure the man and his friends outside the bar. Cotter then testified he and Massey assaulted three men, leaving the Native American bleeding and unconscious in the middle of the intersection.

Prosecutors say Cotter is also a suspect in the brutal beating of a black man in March 2005, which left the man hospitalized after being punched, kicked and struck with a beer bottle by three men. Cotter had plead guilty to that assault but struck a deal with prosecutors, agreeing to testify in the other two assaults in exchange for not being charged in them.

Defense attorneys for Walker, Massey and Egbert stressed to the jury that Cotter had every reason to implicate their clients as a way to get himself out being charged in the first two assaults, and a lighter sentence for the third.

The defense also characterized the assaults as drunken bar brawls that had nothing to do with race.

A second former National Alliance member also placed the trio at the scene of the O'Shucks assault. Brad Callahan testified to meeting Walker, Massey and Egbert just after the New Year's incident. They met at Walker's Salt Lake City home and Callahan said the three talked about beating a bartender that night.

Defense attorney Fred Metos said his clients were obviously disappointed in the verdict and were convinced the evidence against them was weak at best. Metos said defense attorneys will now concentrate on dealing with sentencing on July 31, to appeal to the court for the lightest sentence possible.

Family members of the trio dodged reporters and did not comment.

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E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com