Pubdate: Sat, 19 Aug 2000
Source: Santa Barbara News-Press (CA)
Copyright: 2000 Santa Barbara News-Press
Contact:  P.O. Box 1359, Santa Barbara, CA 93102
Website: http://www.newspress.com/
Author: June Rich, News-press Staff Writer
Note: This story includes reports from the Los Angeles Daily News.
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n1186/a02.html

GOLETA TEEN-AGER CHARGED AS AN ADULT

Ringleader Sought In Kidnapping, Killing

The Goleta 17-year-old arrested Wednesday in connection with the 
kidnap-murder of a West Hills teen-ager will be prosecuted as an adult.

Graham William Pressley faces charges of kidnapping and homicide. He will 
be the first youth in Santa Barbara County to face adult criminal charges 
under Proposition 21, a get-tough initiative targeting juvenile crime that 
took effect in March.

Three men were arrested with Pressley in what authorities describe as a 
bungled five-person scheme which led to the execution-style killing of 
Nicholas S. Markowitz, 15, last week. Investigators were still searching 
Friday night for the alleged ringleader, Jesse James Hollywood, 20, from 
the Los Angeles area.

Proposition 21 allows prosecutors to fast-track certain juvenile cases -- 
for suspects as young as 14 years old -- directly into adult court.

Previously, every case involving a minor was sent to juvenile court, where 
identities are protected. If the prosecution wanted to move the case to the 
harsher world of adult court, the minor was afforded a "fitness hearing" to 
determine if the transfer was appropriate.

Investigators said it appeared that Pressley was not present during the 
initial stages of the kidnapping. Later, according to sheriff's officials, 
Pressley dug the grave for Markowitz. The boy told detectives he sat in the 
car during the killing and heard the fatal gunshots.

The District Attorney's Office had not decided Friday if it would pursue 
the death penalty against any of the suspects.

One other Santa Barbara-area man was arrested in the case, 20-year-old 
Jesse T. Rugge. Also in custody were Ryan J. Hoyt, 21, of Pacoima, and 
William R. Skidmore, 20, of Simi Valley.

Detectives believe a drug debt of Nicholas' older stepbrother, Benjamin 
Markowitz, 22, inspired the shooting.

According to authorities, Hollywood believed Benjamin Markowitz owed him 
$36,000 for marijuana. Investigators said Friday the older Markowitz has 
since said the owed amount was closer to $5,000.

Hollywood decided to kidnap Benjamin Markowitz on Aug. 6, detectives said, 
and enlisted two friends, Rugge and Skidmore. They couldn't find him, but 
came upon Nicholas walking near his home.

Authorities said the trio abducted the boy instead, then drove him to 
Rugge's Casiano Drive in Santa Barbara. The Markowitz boy was held there 
for two days, although investigators believe he may have moved about freely 
within the home. During his stay, he was given a lot of marijuana and Valium.

Benjamin Markowitz told investigators the kidnappers never tried to contact 
him for the money during Nicholas' disappearance.

About five friends of the kidnappers drifted in and out of the house during 
Markowitz's stay, calling him the "stolen kid," investigators said.

At some point, the group decided it would be best to abandon the scheme and 
get rid of their witness, authorities said.

On Aug. 8, detectives believe Rugge and Pressley drove Markowitz to the 
Lemon Tree Inn on State Street, where Hoyt joined them. Rugge and Pressley 
allegedly drove into the Santa Barbara mountains and dug a grave near 
Lizard's Mouth, a rock formation about four miles west of Highway 154 on 
West Camino Cielo Road.

Later that day, the three drove Markowitz to the grave, where Hoyt shot the 
boy nine times in the head and torso with a semiautomatic gun, then buried 
him, authorities said.

Hikers found his body four days later.

All of the suspects, except Pressley, played youth baseball together with 
Benjamin Markowitz in West Hills in their early teens.

Investigators said Friday they were still trying to understand why Hoyt 
felt compelled to pull the trigger in the kidnapping plan supposedly 
hatched by Hollywood.

"We haven't discovered one clear-cut reason about their relationship that 
would cause him to do that," said sheriff's Lt. Mike Burridge, a department 
spokesman. "When the case begins to progress toward the arrests, it takes 
you away from investigating the history between these individuals. You need 
to get the people in custody, because you're dealing with the possible 
destruction of evidence, you're giving the suspects an opportunity to 
collaborate on their stories, and to flee, as has been the case with 
Hollywood."

On Friday, about 400 mourners gathered for a memorial service for Markowitz 
in Mission Hills. Friends spoke through tears about what the boy meant to 
them during the hour-long service.

"You were always a call away when I needed you," said Zach Winters, 16. 
"Things aren't going to be the same without you."

A graveside service followed. Nicholas' parents, Susan and Jeffrey 
Markowitz, watched somberly as their son's casket was lowered into the 
ground. One family member was not present throughout the services -- 
Benjamin Markowitz, who said he did not want his presence to increase his 
stepmother's pain.

"Any piece of mind that I can give to her, I want to give it to her. She 
does not deserve me being in her face," he said. "I want to kill myself for 
what's going on. I wish it was me. I wish it was me that was gone."

This story includes reports from the Los Angeles Daily News.
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