Teen-Ager Pleads Not Guilty in Fights
A Thousand Oaks teen-ager pleaded not guilty Tuesday to one count of conspiracy for allegedly taking part in several street fights that erupted in Newbury Park in April.
In a second, unrelated felony case, an arraignment for 18-year-old Brady Willmon was postponed until June 7 at the request of his attorney.
Willmon, a former Westlake High School football player, faces the charge of conspiracy for allegedly engaging in a series of street fights on Wendy Drive on April 14. The fights--which reportedly included gunfire--involved three gangs and occurred within 30 minutes of each other, police said.
Willmon was arrested in the incident but released on $5,000 bail. He was rearrested seven days later and charged with breaking into a Thousand Oaks house and beating a teen-ager inside. He is now free in lieu of a $30,000 bail in that case.
The defendant’s attorney has denied that Willmon assaulted the Thousand Oaks teen-ager or broke into the boy’s home. He has said Willmon is being charged in the street fights because he associates with some of the combatants.
Deputy Dist. Atty. John A. Vanarelli said a jury trial on the conspiracy charge is scheduled for June 27 before acting Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis III.
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