THOUSAND OAKS : Teen-Ager Sentenced to Jail for Gang Fight

A Thousand Oaks teen-ager who participated in a gang fight was sentenced Thursday to 120 days in jail by a judge who said the defendant and his friends reminded him of “the gang that couldn’t shoot straight.”

Brady Willmon, 18, also was placed on probation for five years and ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution to the state.

Willmon, a former football player at Westlake High School, was convicted of conspiracy to commit an assault by means likely to inflict great bodily injury. According to trial evidence, Willmon armed himself with a broomstick April 14 and took part in a fight to avenge a fellow gang member’s stabbing.

No one was seriously injured in the fight on Wendy Drive in Newbury Park.

Defense attorney Richard T. Ferko said Willmon attends Moorpark College but has moved to Los Angeles County and has broken all ties with gang members. He urged Superior Court Judge Joe D. Hadden to sentence Willmon to two or three months in jail because the teen-ager “at least has attempted to right himself.”

Deputy Dist. Atty. John A. Vanarelli sought a minimum sentence of 180 days in jail.

“The whole crux of this matter is he’s a gang member and he’s involved in gang-related activities,” Vanarelli said. “It wasn’t just a schoolboy scuffle.”

Hadden noted that Willmon had a minimal criminal record before this incident and was barely 18 when it happened. Hadden said he will consider removing the felony conviction from Willmon’s record if he does well on probation. But the judge also warned that prison is a possibility if Willmon gets into more trouble.

“The hits on the football field are great,” Hadden told Willmon. “The hits off the field won’t be tolerated.”