Santa Rosa bar shooting trial to begin

Jurors will be instructed not to draw any conclusions about an inverted cross tattooed on a man’s face when he is tried next week on charges of shooting a downtown Santa Rosa nightclub bouncer, a judge ruled Thursday.

David Montano, 27, faces life in prison if convicted of attempted murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and assault with a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting at Epic Social Lounge on Mendocino Avenue in July 2013.

The bouncer, Silivaai Aiono, then-24, was shot once in the stomach when he escorted Montano from the club after witnesses said Montano caused a disturbance. Aiono survived but spent eight days in the hospital.

Montano fled and was arrested three days later in Sacramento. He was identified in part by tattoos on his face that include the upside-down cross.

He was in court Thursday when his lawyer and prosecutors discussed ground rules of the trial, which will begin with jury selection on Tuesday.

Among Montano’s concerns are that jurors might be biased against him if they believe he is a devil worshipper, his lawyer, Geoffrey Dunham said.

“I can see someone looking at it and saying, ‘Oh, he’s a satanist,’” Dunham told Judge Robert LaForge.

The judge agreed to instruct jurors the tattoo can only be considered for identification purposes. It may not be used to impugne his character, he said.

Also, Montano’s lawyers sought to exclude Facebook pictures that are alleged to show Montano flashing gang signs and holding a wad of $100 bills.

Montano was believed to have been showing off a large amount of money just before the shooting.

Prosecutor Bob Waner agreed to limit that and other character information about Montano that would suggest a belief in the occult including alleged alisas of Diablo, Lucifer and Satan.

However, Waner said he could introduce the material along with the Facebook photos if Montano testifies.

Montano is not expected to take the stand and is likely to exercise his right against self-incrimination.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.