Jesse James Hollywood

Case record: Jesse James Hollywood

Identifiers and background

Jesse James Hollywood, also known as Sean Michaels, was born January 28, 1980, in Los Angeles, California. He was 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) tall and weighed 140 pounds (64 kg). He was at times a very wealthy teen and worked as a drug dealer while also being a fugitive. He was one of the youngest people to have ever made the FBI's ten most-wanted fugitive list, achieved at just 20 years of age.

Hollywood was raised in West Hills in Los Angeles. He was born to John (Jack) Hollywood and Laurie. His father moved the family to Colorado in an attempt to run a restaurant in the mid-1990s, but returned to West Hills in 1995. Hollywood attended El Camino Real High School where he played baseball. During his adolescent years he started ingesting muscle supplements and doing power lifting to help build up his muscle mass. His coach later described him as an “emotional kid” who was later expelled for erupting into a violent fit of rage at one of his teachers near the end of his sophomore year. He transferred to Calabasas High School and played on the varsity baseball team until he injured his back and leg forcing him to give up the sport.

Investigators believed that he started selling heroin a year before he committed the murder of Nicholas Markowitz. He recruited former high school friends William Skidmore, Brian Affronti, Benjamin Markowitz and Jesse Rugge to dispense narcotics for him and build up a profitable illicit drug operation. He had been a close friend of Benjamin Markowitz through playing on the same junior baseball league and visiting the same Malibu, California gymnasium to exercise together. Narcotics operation and murder Benjamin had been one of the schoolmates that dispensed drugs for Hollywood.

Jesse James started a successful auto insurance-scam in which he would report one of the many cars registered to him stolen and collect the money. This scam was later found out by Benjamin, irritating Hollywood. At nineteen years old, his drug operation proved so successful that he was able to afford a three-story white stucco home for $200,000, situated a few blocks away from the Markowitz household. Apart from hosting barbecues, he rarely talked to his neighbors, keeping his head down and remaining silent. His every day wardrobe consisted of blue jeans and tank tops. He kept two pit bulls tied to an elm tree in the backyard.

Despite his thriving drug operation, he had no drug convictions, except for being charged as a minor for possession of alcohol and resisting arrest. He supplied drugs to Ryan Hoyt, the man who was later convicted for the murder of Nicholas Markowitz and co-conspirators Jesse Rugge, William Skidmore and Graham Pressley.

The feud between Benjamin Markowitz and Jesse James Hollywood began over the alleged debt to Hollywood incurred by Markowitz of $1,200.

The offence

On August 6, 2000, Hollywood and several of his gang members decided to confront Benjamin. On their way to see him, they saw Nicholas Markowitz walking on the side of the road after running away from home. Hollywood and his gang decided to abduct Nicholas in broad daylight to hold him in lieu of Benjamin Markowitz's debt. They chased, assaulted, and abducted Nicholas, escaping in a van.

Hollywood then returned the van to the owner, his dad's friend John Roberts. Nicholas, Hollywood, and his gang traveled to a motel in Santa Barbara, California called the Lemon Tree Inn, where they held a party. After the party, members of the gang allowed Nicholas to believe that he was heading home soon.

Hollywood called Ryan Hoyt, a crew-member of Jesse's gang who was also $1,200 in debt to him, to "take care of" Nicholas, giving him a Tec-9. Two members of the crew decided to commit the murder in the Goleta Hills north of Santa Barbara, California. The two dug a shallow grave and returned to the hotel to pick up Nicholas and drive him to the mountains.

Before Hoyt headed up to Lemon Tree Inn, Hollywood borrowed a vehicle that belonged to the mother of a friend, claiming he needed it to help him move, but he used it as transportation to the murder scene. Hollywood let Hoyt drive the borrowed car and drove his girlfriend's car to celebrate her birthday at the Outback Steakhouse, while Hoyt and the crew killed Nicholas Markowitz.

In the kidnapping and murder account, Nicholas Markowitz was kidnapped and murdered at age 15 after the feud over drug money between his half-brother Benjamin Markowitz and Hollywood. The account stated that Hollywood and his gang informed Nicholas of why they were holding him and that he allegedly panicked at first, but after Hollywood offered Nicholas drugs and alcohol, he felt he was a part of the group. The account also stated that Hollywood and his gang then picked up Brian Affronti, another one of Hollywood's friends, then drove their van up to Santa Barbara, California and traveled to various house parties. It further stated that reports indicated many witnesses, parents and teens alike, saw the group together but did not realize anything was going wrong. Although up to 42 witnesses knew he had been kidnapped and even called him "Stolen Boy", they did not notify police because Nicholas appeared to be safe and having fun.

The account added that at the Lemon Tree Inn, the gang held another party in the pool area of the Inn, and Nicholas had befriended a 19-year-old girl at the party. After the party, members of the gang allowed Nicholas to believe he was heading home soon.

The account described that Ryan Hoyt and Jesse Rugge bound Nicholas' hands behind his back with duct tape and put tape over his mouth moments before the execution. Hoyt then knocked Nicholas into the grave by hitting him over the back of the head with the shovel used to dig the shallow grave. Hoyt shot Nicholas nine times with the Tec-9. The members of the gang then tried to hide the gun by placing it between the legs of Nicholas' body and then covering the body with dirt and branches. The grave was too shallow and close to a popular trail, and Nicholas' body was soon found on August 12, 2000.

Nicholas Markowitz (September 19, 1984–August 9, 2000) lived in the West Hills, Los Angeles, California area with his mother, Susan, and father, Jeff. He was kidnapped and murdered at the age of 15.

Investigation and charges

Hollywood was apprehended in Brazil on March 9, 2005 and was extradited to the United States. At the time of his capture, a reward of around $50,000 was offered for information leading to his arrest. He was arrested in Saquarema in March 2005 by Interpol agents. He was using false identification and claimed to be a native of Rio de Janeiro and later Saquarema. In an attempt to blend in, he took up the Portuguese language. He worked in Brazil by putting up posters advertising a nightclub and later landed a job teaching private English language classes and being a dog walker. The bulk of the money he lived off came from a $1,200 monthly stipend funneled by his father.

The account stated that Hollywood fled the country through Canada and went to Brazil with help from his father Jack, his godfather Richard Dispenza, and his girlfriend at the time. It also stated that law enforcement agencies and the Markowitz family offered a reward of $30,000 leading to his capture, later raised to $50,000.

The account stated that United States authorities worked with Brazilian agents and found out that Hollywood was supposed to meet a cousin in a mall. It further stated that he was arrested by Interpol agents in Saquarema in March 2005, and that while in Brazil he met Marcia Reis, who became pregnant by Hollywood. In August 2005 Reis gave birth to Hollywood's son, named John Paul Hollywood-Reis. The account stated that Hollywood believed the pregnancy would protect him from extradition to the United States based on Brazilian law, but that this was incorrect because Brazilian laws had been changed since the international controversy with Biggs. It also stated he was in Brazil as an illegal immigrant because he had arrived with a false passport, which would have allowed deportation.

The narrative also stated that on August 15, 2000, Hollywood was charged with one count of murder in Santa Barbara County, California. After it was determined that he fled the state of California, a federal warrant charging Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was filed in U.S. District Court in Santa Barbara, California. The government anticipated dismissal of the federal UFAP warrant and stated that Hollywood would be held in custody of the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department to await prosecution by the state of California.

Arrest and extradition

The narrative included that on Tuesday, March 8, the Brazilian Federal Police, acting on information obtained by American authorities, detained Jesse James Hollywood at a location in Brazil where he was residing with a companion, approximately one hour from Rio de Janeiro. It stated that Hollywood was arrested by Brazilian authorities based on a violation of the Brazilian immigration policy and deported. It further stated that he was turned over to the custody of Agents of the FBI and deputies with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department and brought back to Los Angeles on the morning of March 10.

Richard Garcia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles, stated:

“I’m most grateful to the Brazilian authorities for their invaluable assistance to the FBI and our partners in Santa Barbara during this international cooperative effort in which an individual hiding in their country whose been accused of the worst kind of crime - the murder of an innocent child - was successfully apprehended.”

Sheriff Jim Anderson stated:

"The Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Department has been working tirelessly since the discovery of this heinous crime to bring those responsible to justice. Our commitment to the victims of this crime has remained a priority throughout this investigation. This case has remained open, with resources dedicated to locating Jesse James Hollywood. I would also like to thank all of the other agencies involved in this investigation, including the FBI and the California Department of Justice SBRNET task force. In addition to these agencies, a special thanks to the Brazilian authorities for their efforts in apprehending this dangerous felon."

The account stated that at the time of his capture he was teaching English language and living on $1,200.00 a month sent by his parents.

Trial

Court rulings and prosecution recusal

In 2006, the movie Alpha Dog premiered based on Jesse Hollywood and the kidnap and murder of Nicholas Markowitz. During filming, Santa Barbara County Deputy District Attorney Ronald J. Zonen provided copies of many documents on the case and served as an unpaid consultant to the film, citing his desire to have Hollywood captured. Zonen prosecuted Hollywood’s co-defendants and was poised to prosecute Hollywood.

James Blatt, Hollywood's defense attorney, claimed there was a conflict of interest. The California Court of Appeal for the Second District ruled on October 5, 2006 that, based on Zonen's disclosure of the files and consultant service, he should be recused from further involvement in prosecuting Hollywood. On December 20, 2006, the California Supreme Court granted review on the case effectively staying the order to recuse Zonen. On May 12, 2008, the California Supreme Court ruled that Zonen should not be recused. Nonetheless, Zonen was replaced with Joshua Lynn, who was serving as lead prosecution attorney.

Pre-trial timing and opening statements

After the court review, in June 2008 Hollywood's trial date was set to begin February 19, 2009, but it was delayed. Three months later, the murder trial officially started Friday May 15th. The defense's opening statements said Hollywood was not involved with the murder. In his opening statement, Santa Barbara County Deputy Dist. Atty. Joshua Lynn described Hollywood as "a ruthless coward."

Witnesses and evidence described during trial

Witnesses called to the stand included Jeff Markowitz, Pauline Mahoney, and Brian Affonti. Affonti told the jury he knew about Hollywood's gun, a TEC-9, which was the alleged murder weapon.

Chas Salsbury, Hollywood's getaway driver, testified that following the murder Hollywood seemed remorseful, depressed, and at some points even suicidal. Kelly Carpenter discussed the actions of Rugge and Pressley's mother. The next day had testimony from Rugge childhood friend Richard Hoeflinger about what he witnessed. Several Santa Barbarans told the jury about events leading to Nick Markowitz’s murder.

At the start of the second week, Michelle Lasher, Hollywood's former girlfriend, testified. The account stated she still loved Hollywood while being emotional and was hostile to prosecution. It also stated Lasher admitted on the witness stand to lying to police because she didn't want him to be caught.

The Hollywood family friend, attorney Stephen Hogg, told the jury about "a tense conversation in the attorney's Simi Valley backyard" where he told Jesse James "that kidnapping can carry a life sentence."

Graham Pressley's testimony followed Hogg's appearance. Pressley testified that Rugge told him that Jesse Hollywood offered him $2,000 to kill Nick, but that Rugge said it was crazy and that Hollywood was crazy.

Ben Markowitz testified next. Casey Sheehan quoted Hollywood as saying that as he and his longtime friend dined at an Outback Steakhouse the suspect told his friend "the situation" had been taken care of.

The account stated that medical experts and law enforcement officials testified, and that the prosecution rested their case on Wednesday of the third week. Hollywood's defense began on the Monday of the third week. Hollywood took the stand on the first day of the defense denying any role in the murder and said he was angry when Hoyt told him about the murder at a birthday party. Hollywood recounted the kidnapping, the events that led up to it, and discussed his life on the run. The account stated his testimony lasted four days with the prosecution cross-examining him about making threats, closing bank accounts, withdrawing money, and selling his home. It also stated that much of Hollywood's responses were denials about previous witness testimony.

The last witness the defense called was District Attorney investigator Paul Kimes, questioned by co-counsel Alex Kessel about phone records.

Closing arguments began on Tuesday and Wednesday of the fourth week, and the case went to the jury. During closing statements, the defense said Hollywood's associates lied while the prosecution called Hollywood "a child killer." The jury considered three different charges with penalties ranging from 8 years in prison to the death penalty.

Verdict and penalty phase

On July 8, 2009, following three days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict. The jury found him guilty of kidnapping and first-degree murder with special circumstances for which he can face the death penalty.

On Monday July 13, the jury began the penalty phase of the trial. The mothers for the defendant and the victim took the stand. Brothers of the defendant and the victim testified and closing arguments began during the second day of the penalty phase. The jury sentenced Hollywood to life in prison, which meant he avoided the death penalty and would spend the rest of his life in a California prison.

Sentencing and courtroom events

The narrative included that just after 2 p.m. on Wednesday, the sentence was read: life in prison. It stated that jurors had last week deemed guilty of first degree murder for his role in the shooting death of Markowitz, and that it had taken jurors fewer than two days to decide the fate. It stated that in minutes of the courtroom assembling for the reading of the sentence, Judge Brian Hill thanked jurors for their two months of service, and defense counsel Alex Kessel also thanked jurors. The narrative stated that Hollywood ultimately proved less culpable than Ryan Hoyt, an associate who pulled the trigger on the gun that killed Markowitz near Lizard’s Mouth and who was sentenced in 2000 to death row.

Legal outcome for co-defendants and related cases

The criminal trials involving the kidnappers included:

• Ryan Hoyt, aged 21 at the time, was charged with 1st degree murder. His trial began October 2001 and ended November 2001. He was convicted on November 21, 2001. The “penalty” phase began November 2001 and he was sentenced to death on December 9, 2001. He was stated to be on Death Row at San Quentin State Prison.
• Jesse Rugge, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with aiding in the kidnap and execution of Nicholas Markowitz. He was portrayed in Alpha Dog as being the one who bound Nicholas' hands together and put tape over his mouth moments before the execution. He was convicted in 2002 and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole. Parole was denied in 2006.
• William Skidmore, aged 20 at the time of the murder, was charged with kidnapping and robbery. In September 2002, he was sentenced to nine years in a state prison as part of a plea bargain. Skidmore was released in April 2009.
• Graham Pressley, aged 17 at the time of the murder, was tried twice. In July 2002 he was acquitted of kidnapping and the jury hung on the murder charge. In October 2002 he was convicted of second degree murder. Pressley was incarcerated at a California Youth Authority facility until he turned the age of 25 in 2007, and has since been released.

The narrative stated that there had been several court cases involving criminal trials with the kidnappers and a civil lawsuit. It further stated that the Markowitz family won a $11.2 million civil lawsuit in 2003 against the kidnappers and killers as well as secondary people including the family friend whose van was used in the kidnapping, the owners of several homes where Nicholas was held against his will, and the Lemon Tree Inn in Santa Barbara.

Appeal and trial misconduct proceedings described

The sentencing phase was described as marked by controversy, as defense attorneys made a motion for a mistrial for alleged juror misconduct. Lead defense attorney James Blatt began proceedings by reporting that the defendant’s father, Jack Hollywood, had been approached by someone who claimed to be married to a juror. Blatt said the juror had not been able to sleep since another juror made a joke about witness Casey Sheehan, who is an electrician, electrocuting Hollywood. The joke made another juror uncomfortable. Judge Hill ruled that the joke, while crass, did not indicate the juror had acted unfairly when she made her decision.

The narrative stated that later bailiff Matt Banks took the stand so the court could evaluate the conduct of another juror. Banks recalled that after jurors reached their guilty verdict, one asked to see the gun Hoyt used to shoot Markowitz. Banks unlocked the gun and allowed “nine or 10” jurors to hold it. During that time, one juror spoke of having a concealed weapons permit in Arizona. “It all clicked that this was improper,” Banks said. Hill agreed to hold a separate hearing on the matter because Blatt said he did not remember any of the jurors admitting to having a concealed weapons permit.

Aftermath and further coverage

The narrative stated that in January 2006, the movie Alpha Dog, loosely-based on his life, premiered at the Sundance Film festival. The film stars Emile Hirsch as Hollywood, with Justin Timberlake, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, and Harry Dean Stanton. It stated Universal Studios would release the film in theaters late 2006 for awards consideration later opening it widely in early 2007.

It stated that NBC's Dateline and Fox Network's America's Most Wanted had been covering the story extensively for the past five years.

It also stated that while Hollywood was in jail, he began signing his mail as "Alpha Dog" and had mentioned an "Alpha Dog World Tour."

People named in the case

• Jesse James Hollywood (also known as Sean Michaels), defendant
• Nicholas Markowitz, victim (also referred to as Nick Markowitz), kidnapped and murdered at age 15
• Benjamin Markowitz, Nicholas Markowitz's half-brother
• Susan Markowitz, Nicholas Markowitz's mother
• Jeff Markowitz, Nicholas Markowitz's father
• Ryan Hoyt, described as a crew-member in the gang and convicted co-defendant
• Jesse Rugge, convicted co-defendant
• William Skidmore, convicted co-defendant
• Graham Pressley, convicted co-defendant
• Brian Affronti, named as a friend of Hollywood and called as a witness
• Pauline Mahoney, witness driving with her sons
• Jeff Markowitz, witness (victim's father)
• Chas Salsbury, Hollywood's getaway driver and witness
• Kelly Carpenter, witness testimony described
• Richard Hoeflinger, Rugge childhood friend witness
• Michelle Lasher, Hollywood's former girlfriend and witness
• Stephen Hogg, attorney and family friend witness
• Casey Sheehan, named in testimony quoted as “the situation” being taken care of
• Paul Kimes, District Attorney investigator witness for defense
• Alex Kessel, co-counsel
• James Blatt, defense attorney
• Joshua Lynn, lead prosecution attorney
• Ronald J. Zonen, Deputy District Attorney involved in consultant work and recusal dispute
• Brian Hill, judge
• Matt Banks, bailiff
• Jack Hollywood, Hollywood's father
• Laurie, Hollywood's mother
• Richard Dispenza, godfather
• Marcia Reis, pregnant partner in Brazil
• John Paul Hollywood-Reis, Hollywood's son born in August 2005
• Laura Hanan, nurse at Santa Barbara County Jail who testified during sentencing
• Ben Markowitz, Nicholas's older brother
• Laura Hanan delivered quoted statements in the sentencing narrative:

  “He’d say to me, ‘Laura, you don’t look well. You okay?’”
  “I saw a friend to me, who was actively concerned about me."

• Emile Hirsch (cast as Hollywood), Justin Timberlake (cast), Bruce Willis (cast), Sharon Stone (cast), Harry Dean Stanton (cast), named in the film description
• Amy Silverstein, author named in the narrative
• Richard Garcia, FBI Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI in Los Angeles
• Jim Anderson, Santa Barbara County Sheriff
• John Roberts, described as the owner of the van returned to after the kidnapping
• John Roberts is named as "John Roberts" within the narrative of the van return.

Timeline

• August 6, 2000 — Hollywood intended to kidnap Benjamin Markowitz but instead abducted Benjamin's 15-year-old stepbrother Nicholas Markowitz; Hollywood and his gang later confronted and abducted Nicholas in broad daylight.
• August 8, 2000 — In the mountains north of Goleta, California, Nicholas was shot and killed by a group of men working for Hollywood.
• August 12, 2000 — Nicholas' body was found on a shallow grave by hikers.
• August 15, 2000 — Hollywood was charged with one count of murder in Santa Barbara County, California.
• October 5, 2006 — The California Court of Appeal for the Second District ruled that Ronald J. Zonen should be recused from further involvement in prosecuting Hollywood.
• December 20, 2006 — The California Supreme Court granted review and effectively stayed the order to recuse Zonen.
• January 2006 — Alpha Dog premiered at the Sundance Film festival.
• May 12, 2008 — The California Supreme Court ruled that Zonen should not be recused; Zonen was replaced with Joshua Lynn.
• Friday May 15 — The murder trial officially started with the defense opening statements saying Hollywood was not involved with the murder.
• July 8, 2009 — After three days of deliberation, the jury reached a verdict finding Hollywood guilty of kidnapping and first-degree murder with special circumstances.
• Monday July 13 — The jury began the penalty phase of the trial.
• July 14, 2009 — Hollywood was sentenced to life in prison.
• April 2009 — William Skidmore was released after serving nine years behind bars for kidnapping.
• March 9, 2005 — Hollywood was apprehended in Brazil.
• March 10 — Hollywood was brought back to Los Angeles on the morning following the Brazilian detention/deportation narrative.
• March 2005 — Hollywood was arrested by Interpol agents in Saquarema.

Other details

The narrative stated that Hollywood had been teaching English language and living on $1,200.00 a month sent by his parents at the time of capture. It also stated that he had been profiled on America's Most Wanted from September 2000 to June 2004 and twice in 2005 after capture. The narrative stated that his father, Jack Hollywood, was arrested in 2005 for manufacturing the illicit narcotic GHB, but the charge was later thrown out in court; it also stated that Jack remained in custody on an outstanding 2002 warrant for a marijuana-related charge and later received 18 months in an Arizona prison.

The narrative stated that while Hollywood was in Brazil, all participants in the murder were convicted or made pleas. It further stated that Hoyt was on death row at San Quentin State Prison, Graham Pressley was released in 2007 from the California Youth Authority Facility, and Jesse Rugge was serving a life sentence in Pleasant Valley State Prison. It also stated that William Skidmore was released in April 2009 after serving nine years behind bars for kidnapping.

The narrative included that the trial jury considered three different charges with penalties ranging from 8 years in prison to the death penalty, and that the sentence of life in prison avoided the death penalty.

It also stated the film coverage and details about Alpha Dog, including the casting and release timing for theaters late 2006 for awards consideration and wide opening in early 2007.