FRENCH VALLEY -- After telling a the judge they take responsibility for what they did, two participants in what has become known as the Murrieta "Fight Club" were sentenced Friday for their crimes.

James Daryl Walker, 20, was sent to state prison for six years while 19-year-old Travis Edward Erickson received a sentence of 180 days in custody and three years' formal probation.

Walker must serve 85 percent of his six-year sentence before becoming eligible for parole. He also has credit for about a year served already.

Judge Rodney Walker -- no relation to the defendant -- recommended that Erickson's six months in custody be house arrest. The judge said he believes there is too much chance that, if Erickson was sent to county jail, he would be released early because of overcrowding issues.

Last month, James Walker and Erickson were among the final five members of Fight Club to enter guilty pleas. Three men are scheduled to return to court next month to be sentenced.

In all, 11 young men have now pleaded guilty to a variety of crimes, each admitting the offenses were gang-related.

Authorities have said the Fight Club was started primarily by students of Murrieta Valley High School as a sort of an underground boxing group, with the members first sparring among themselves.

Then some members started to pick fights with outsiders and progressed to a criminal street gang that committed such crimes as armed robbery, burglary, assault with a deadly weapon and arson, prosecutors said.

The judge said Friday at Southwest Justice Center that these two sentences begin to "wrap up a rather sad chapter in the history of the city of Murrieta and its high school."

The judge said he thinks those involved with Fight Club are basically good kids.

"They simply thought too much of themselves. They were selfish and short-sighted," Walker said.

He said he hopes all those involved have learned that their selfish actions not only effects those they victimized, but hundreds of people -- the families of defendants and victims alike.

Walker sentencing

The judge commended James Walker at times, saying he has shown maturity and possessed "character enough to recognize that the right thing to do is simply take your medicine."

James Walker pleaded guilty last month to two counts of assault with a deadly weapon, admitting that both were gang-related and that one caused great bodily injury to the victim. He now has two strikes under the state's Three Strikes Law, meaning should he ever be convicted of another felony once released he could face up to 25 years to life in prison.

"Unfortunately, my mistakes led to the physical and emotional abuse of others," James Walker said Friday when allowed the chance to speak at his hearing.

"I associated with the wrong people. I understand what I did was wrong," he added.

"I am trying to right my wrongs," James Walker said. "I'd like to be punished for what I did."

Walker told the judge that he initiated contact with Murrieta police and spoke to them honestly about Fight Club and its crimes.

"The most damning evidence against me has been myself," he said.

Walker's attorney, Lorene Mies, pointed out to the judge that her client spent 10 1/2 hours with police in October 2006, an interview she says led to the arrest and conviction of many of the Fight Club members. She asked the judge to consider, when sentencing her client, that he cooperated with police and agreed to plead to two strikes.

Six people testified on behalf of Walker, each asking the judge for leniency.

However, Deputy District Attorney Brandon Smith told the judge that Walker has shown a "pattern of violence" and he called three members of one family to speak in order to show that pattern. Walker and other Fight Club members assaulted a man and his son, even dragging the father some distance under a truck.

Walker entered his guilty plea before prosecutors filed any charges against him in the attack on that man and son.

After hearing those family members describe what happened to them, the judge told them that, while he sympathizes with them, he can only sentence Walker for the charges to which he pleaded guilty.

The judge told Walker that he is now at a crossroads in his life and whether or not he takes the proper path will dictate how his life ends up.

Telling Walker he belongs in state prison for what he did, the judge also said, "you have a pretty good chance by age 24 or 25 to start a pretty good life."

Erickson sentencing

Last month, Erickson pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree commercial burglary and arson, while also admitting to gang-related crimes on both counts.

With other known Fight Club members, Erickson took part in the October 2006 burglary of a temporary office in Temecula for LA Fitness. The arson charge stems from the burning of computers taken from the business.

Erickson's attorney, Brent Romney, asked the judge Friday to "take a chance" on his client and consider a sentence of just probation. Romney said Erickson, who has been out of custody after posting bond on his bail, has enrolled in school and is working.

Judge Walker pointed out that Erickson has not done well when previously on probation, including continued use of marijuana.

"He's not taking things very seriously," the judge said.

If Erickson does well on probation now, the judge said it would be a big surprise. If not, "… it's good-bye, Mr. Erickson," Walker said, meaning he will send him to state prison.

Erickson also addressed the judge at the hearing, first apologizing for wasting the court's time.

"I take full responsibility for my actions," Erickson then said.

"Judge, you have my word this will never happen again," he added, saying he is taking positive steps in his life.

Erickson also apologized to LA Fitness for the damage he caused, then talked about others he had damaged.

"I apologize to all my family, friends and loved ones for all the pain and embarrassment I have caused them," he said.

While rendering his sentence, Walker sternly warned Erickson against any use of marijuana as well as to not associate with anyone who was part of Fight Club.

"The farther you can keep yourself from that bunch, the better off you will be," Walker said. "Show your family and the rest of us that you deserve to be free."

Probation reports

Probation reports pertaining to Walker and Erickson were submitted to the judge before Friday's sentencing hearings.

Riverside County probation Officer Julia Meeks detailed her Feb. 6 interview with James Walker.

Regarding participation in Fight Club, Walker told the officer "he and several friends were given that name in high school, but did not like it.

"Eventually they embraced it, but after high school he tried to diminish his reputation as a Fight Club member, as he felt it was immature and negative," Meeks wrote.

Walker told her that he no longer associates with anyone from Fight Club and wants to finish college and pursue a career.

The probation report also details the assaults for which Walker pleaded guilty, based on information Meeks received from law enforcement.

In one of the assaults, Walker, along with Fight Club founder Anthony Craig Smith and others, attacked someone at a party in Murrieta on Oct. 25, 2006, Meeks wrote.

During the assault, Smith became enraged, grabbed the victim and hit him with an uppercut.

"Walker described Smith's attack … as being 'violent, very vicious,'" according to the report.

In her Jan. 29 interview of Erickson, Meeks details how he told her of the fear he and others had of Smith.

Erickson told her that "everyone was afraid of Anthony because they 'saw him knock out a guy,'" Meeks wrote.

Erickson told her that Smith was very violent and aggressive.

"He's on steroids. He was the boss and everybody tried to please him," the report states.

Smith intimidated Erickson into taking part in the LA Fitness burglary, according to the report.

In her conclusions, the probation officer said, "Perhaps the defendant's most serious fault was his failure to notify authorities of the Fight Club's criminal activities, which could have resulted in fewer victims."

In her statement regarding Walker, Meeks wrote that it seems "immaturity, as well as intoxication, played a large role in his behavior." But she adds that none of that can be used as an excuse.

She said it looks like Walker is remorseful, has made significant positive changes, "appears to have ambitious goals and seems to possess the ability to achieve such goals."

Remaining sentences

Anthony Craig Smith, 20, faced close to 60 years in prison had he been convicted as charged. Instead, he entered into a plea agreement and is expected to be sentenced to 25 years.

Smith pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, admitting that it was a gang crime and to using a firearm in that crime; robbery, admitting it was a gang crime in that case as well; two counts of assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a controlled substance.

Michael Robert Petty, 21, received a sentence of 19 years, four months in his plea agreement.

He also pleaded guilty to first-degree burglary, admitting using a firearm; robbery, admitting that was a gang-related crime; vehicle theft and a second-degree commercial burglary.

Martin Arturo Valle, 21, pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a felony, admitting it was a gang-related crime and having a prior "strike" against him under the state's Three Strikes Law. Valle agreed to be sentenced to four years, eight months, in state prison.

All three are scheduled to return to court on March 28 to be sentenced.

Contact staff writer John Hall at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2628, or jhall@californian.com.