Appeals court upholds murder conviction for man in 2012 strip club stabbing

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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Court of Appeals has upheld murder and assault convictions for a Salt Lake man found guilty of wounding a bouncer and killing another patron in a 2012 stabbing outside a strip club.

The court Friday overruled an appeal by Isaac Anthony Gallegos, 48, citing concerns about how the strip club manager identified him at trial and references made to his alleged gang ties before the jury, despite an agreement they would not be mentioned.

The court ruled that issues with the manager's identification of Gallegos was appropriate, but if it had not been, it likely would not have impacted the jury's decision. The decision also sided with the lower court's choice not to declare a mistrial despite allusions to Gallegos' gang connection at trial.

Gallegos was found guilty in March 2014 of murder, a first-degree felony, of 27-year-old Dustin D. Hoffman; obstructing justice, a second-degree felony; and aggravated assault, a third-degree felony.

He is currently serving 15 years to life in prison for Hoffman's death, with a concurrent sentence of up to 15 years for obstructing justice. The sentences run consecutive to a term of up to five years for assaulting the bouncer, as well as a prison sentence he is already serving.

According to charges filed in 3rd District Court, a fight broke out in Southern Exposure, 3420 S. State, on Nov. 11, 2012, and soon moved outside and turned into a brawl. In the midst of the fray, a witness reported seeing Gallegos with a knife. The same witness said he saw Gallegos hit Hoffman in the chest, prompting Hoffman to fall to the ground.

The bouncer was attempting to pull apart the pile of people fighting when he felt Gallegos hit him in the side, according to court documents. He pushed Gallegos aside only to realize he was bleeding. The bouncer said Gallegos then stabbed Hoffman.

Hoffman died at the scene, according to charging documents. His death was ruled a homicide caused by two stab wounds. The bouncer was hospitalized for serious injuries but survived.