OJAI : 2 Plead Not Guilty in Killing at Party
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Two men pleaded not guilty in Ventura County Municipal Court on Monday to first-degree murder charges stemming from an alleged robbery at a New Year’s Eve party in Ojai during which a party-goer shot and killed a third alleged robber.
Murder charges were filed against Frank Stoddard, 28, and Timothy Antonelli, 24, both of Ventura, because prosecutors said the men provoked the party-goer to kill Ron Brown, 22.
Stoddard and Antonelli also denied two counts of robbery, four counts of attempted robbery, six counts of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of burglary and one count of conspiracy.
Police said Antonelli, Stoddard and Brown forced their way into a house in the 700 block of Park Road about 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 1. The three ordered the guests there to lie on the floor, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Donald C. Glynn. Three guests were struck on the head with a gun, two others’ lives were threatened, and two people were robbed, Glynn said.
Authorities said guest Billy Joe Gregory, 35, of Ojai grabbed a semiautomatic rifle from Brown and killed him. He then shot and wounded Stoddard, they said.
Stoddard and Antonelli were ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing scheduled Feb. 8.
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