OJAI : Charges Filed in New Year’s Death

Murder charges have been filed against two suspects in a robbery at a New Year’s celebration in Ojai after a party guest fatally shot a third suspect, prosecutors said Thursday.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn said Timothy Antonelli and Frank Stoddard, both of Ventura, provoked a party-goer to shoot Ron Brown, 22.

Glynn said California law allows the filing of first-degree murder charges against any defendant who, in committing a crime, provokes another person to kill someone.

Antonelli and Stoddard were each charged with murder, two counts of robbery, four counts of attempted robbery, six counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of burglary and one of conspiracy, Glynn said.

Police said Antonelli, 24; Stoddard, 28, and Brown forced their way into a house in the 700 block of Park Road about 6:30 a.m. Jan. 1. The intruders ordered the guests at the party to lie on the floor, struck three guests on the head with a gun, threatened to kill some of them and robbed two, Glynn said.

Police said Antonelli helped plan the robbery but arrived unarmed and lay on the floor with the others.

A party guest identified as Billy Joe Gregory, 35, of Ojai awoke after being knocked out to see one of his friends struggling with one of the intruders, Glynn said. Gregory grabbed a semiautomatic rifle from Brown and fired two shots, killing him, then fired a shot that hit Stoddard in the groin, Glynn said.

Gregory was not charged because he shot the two in self-defense, Glynn said.

Stoddard, who is hospitalized, and Antonelli, who is being held in Ventura County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail, are scheduled to be arraigned in Municipal Court on Jan. 28.

Halpin is free on $5,000 bail pending an arraignment scheduled today.