OXNARD : 8 Held in Assault, Robbery of Man, 18

Seven youths and an Oxnard man--all identified by police as gang members--were arrested on charges of beating and robbing an 18-year-old Oxnard man early Monday night, police said.

Alejandro Martinez was assaulted by a group after they yelled gang slogans and got out of their car in the 5300 block of Perkins Road, said Sgt. Daniel Christian. The incident occurred shortly before 6:30 p.m. An unknown person initially notified police of the assault.

The assailants stole about $40 from Martinez, yelled more slogans and then sped off, Christian said.

Martinez is not a gang member, Oxnard Police Sgt. Gene Thayer said.

A few minutes after the incident, the eight suspects were spotted by Police Officer Kevin Thompson in their car less than half a mile away, Thayer said.

Believing that the suspects might be armed, Thompson held them at gunpoint until additional officers arrived.

Police arrested Francisco Soto, 18, and the youths without incident, Christian said.

They were charged with robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, assault with a deadly weapon and with violating provisions of the Street Terrorism Act, an anti-gang law.

Soto was being held at the Ventura County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. The youths were taken to Juvenile Hall.