Prospective jurors in the trial of Ingmar Guandique, the 29-year-old from El Salvador accused of killing federal intern Chandra Levy in Rock Creek Park in 2001, had to answer questions about their views on tattoos and gang members.
But those topics didn’t come up in-depth at Guandique’s trial until Thursday, when Guandique’s former cellmate took the stand.
Guandique’s nickname was “Chucky,” cellmate Armando Morales testified. But a tattoo on his back misspells the name and reads “Chacky,” Morales said.
Throughout jury selection and the trial, Guandique has worn a turtleneck to cover his tattoos.
Morales, who said he is a former member of the Fresno Bulldogs gang, said he was jumped by members of a rival gang in prison. Guandique, a member of MS-13, suggested the two become cellmates because they were affiliated with allied gangs.
“I shook his hand,” Morales testified. “I appreciated it.”
Morales said he hid the fact that he had “dropped out” of the gang from other inmates, including Guandique, because he didn’t want to be perceived as disloyal.
