An Aurora man accused of violating a court-ordered ban on gang contact will stand trial next month, according to court records.
Gabriel Berrios, 23, was charged in 2013 with a misdemeanor count of unlawful street gang contact after Aurora police reported seeing him with two known gang members.
Berrios is one of several men – suspected members of the Latin Kings – named in a 2012 lawsuit by the city of Aurora against the gang which seeks to shut down its activities. The judge overseeing the lawsuit, which is pending with a May 21 hearing date, entered an injunction against Berrios when he failed to respond to the suit.
In doing so, Berrios became subject to criminal charges if he violated terms of the injunction, which include geographic and personal contact restrictions tied to the gangs. Berrios previously argued unsuccessfully that the injunction was unconstitutional and for the charge to be dropped for that reason.
Police said at the time that Berrios was in the front seat of a car driven by a documented gang member and later was seen talking with a second one. Police also said Berrios had an outstanding warrant for failing to show up to court.
Berrios is now scheduled for a May 21 bench trial. At least one previous trial date was set and later postponed since his arrest.
Dan Campana is a freelance reporter