THOUSAND OAKS : Youth to Stand Trial Over Gang Violence

A Thousand Oaks youth must stand trial in connection with several instances of gang-related violence in eastern Ventura County last month, a judge ruled Tuesday.

Brady Willmon--an 18-year-old, former Westlake High School football player--faces charges of conspiracy to commit assault and assault by means of force likely to inflict great bodily injury.

Acting Superior Court Judge Herbert Curtis III set his arraignment for May 24.

Willmon was booked on the conspiracy charge for allegedly having a role in several street fights that broke out April 14 on Wendy Drive in Newbury Park.

The fights involved three different gangs and occurred within 30 minutes of each other, police said. Some gunfire was heard, but no one was injured.

While free in lieu of $5,000 bail in that case, Willmon was re-arrested April 21 and accused of bursting into a Thousand Oaks teen-ager’s home and beating him.

Willmon is now free in lieu of $30,000 bail.

Despite the judge’s order Tuesday, Willmon’s attorney said he believes that the defense exposed holes in the prosecution’s case against Willmon.

Attorney Richard T. Ferko denied that Willmon assaulted anyone in the Wendy Drive fights, saying his client is being charged with “guilt by association.”

Ferko also denied that Willmon burst into the Thousand Oaks home April 21.

“They don’t have much evidence,” he said. “We put witnesses on who testified where Brady was at the time the attack was supposed to have taken place. He was not there and didn’t have anything to do with it.”