Fort Wayne, Indiana – A Fort Wayne man who was arrested and charged in connection with a viral biker gang beating at a local bar is now suing the woman who incorrectly identified him as one of the attackers.
Allen County prosecutors dropped all charges against Kent Adamonis shortly after the Allen County Sheriff’s Department arrested him and five other white men in May for allegedly beating a Black man at Pikes Pub, a bar located just off Winchester Road in Waynedale.
The men are also accused of being members of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gang.
Adamonis was booked into Allen County Jail on a felony count of battery causing serious bodily injury and a misdemeanor count of criminal recklessness at the time. He posted bail and then brought investigators Ring doorbell video that proved he and his wife were home when the beating occurred at the bar, his son told WANE 15 earlier this summer.
Adamonis filed a defamation lawsuit this month in Allen Superior Court’s small claims division against the woman who identified him in court documents as one of the attackers who choked, beat, and kicked a man later identified as James Simmons.
At least some of the attackers used racial slurs while beating Simmons.
According to the lawsuit, Adamonis is seeking damages of $10,125 from the woman who identified him.
“Defamation, she lied to the police,” Adamonis wrote in the lawsuit, explaining why he filed.
In court documents detailing the beating, which was covered by national news outlets after a video of the attack went viral on social media, the woman told police she had known Adamonis for years and that he was involved in the attack.
In those documents, investigators stated that “Adamonis is seen in the video standing up and kicking James while he is down.” The documents also state that Adamonis is dressed in “Outlaw” biker gear and has a handlebar mustache.
Adamonis’ son informed WANE 15 earlier this summer that his father has no connection to the Outlaws.
After Adamonis proved he was not at the bar, police arrested Vard Warnock in connection with the attack. Warnock, aged 58, was the sixth and final person arrested in connection with the attack.
The others charged in connection with the attack include:
- Douglas Zuber, 66
- Jerrad Wade Impton, 52
- Ryan Minick, 44
- Christopher Yoho, 42
- Justin Wert, 35
Each man is charged with a Level 5 felony count of battery resulting in serious bodily injury, a misdemeanor count of criminal recklessness, and a Level 6 felony count of criminal gang activity, which allows for a criminal gang enhancement to their sentences if convicted.
Following their arrests, all six men posted bond and have a pretrial hearing scheduled for September 26.
Adamonis’ lawsuit against the woman who identified him as an attacker is scheduled for a bench trial on September 10.
