Orange County Register reports that Jesse James Hollywood was convicted of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2000 murder of a teenager after five years on the run.
Hollywood, 29, could receive death penalty. He also was convicted of kidnapping, a conviction that carries a maximum prison term of eight years.
His father, was shocked after the conviction, "I can't believe they found him guilty of that murder,"
Hollywood was accused of kidnapping Markowitz, 15, taking him to Santa Barbara and murdered him. Markowitz's death was aimed to retaliate against Ben Markowitz who had a $1,200 drug debt owed to Hollywood.
Criminal Defense attorneys saw Hollywood as a victim. On the witness stand, Hollywood, a former marijuana dealer, acknowledged involving in the kidnapping, and took it was an impulsive act.
For prosecutors, one big challenge to get a murder conviction was the absence of evidence that Hollywood issued an order. Hoyt, the shooter, his conviction is on appeal and he risked self-incrimination.
In California criminal law, homicide is due to intentional or unintentional, premeditated, reckless or careless behavior on the part of another.
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