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.