CONT’D
Markowitz Kidnapper Released
COU RTESY C PC
News of theWeek
Jesse Rugge (pictured), convicted on charges of aggravated kidnapping in connection with the killing of 15-year-old Nicholas Markowitz 13 years ago, was released from Chino prison after serving 11 years of a life sentence. The state parole board voted to release Rugge over the objections of Governor Jerry Brown, Santa Barbara prosecutors, and Susan Markowitz, the victim’s mother. Rugge was one of five young men arrested and convicted for the shooting masterminded by Jesse James Hollywood, a small-time San Fernando Valley pot dealer who ordered the kidnapping after Markowitz’s older brother ripped him off in a drug deal. Prosecutors alleged that Rugge was more intimately involved in the killing but could never prove it. Susan Markowitz reminded the 12 parole board officers that Rugge had initially told investigators that he had bound her son’s wrists with duct tape and had helped bury him after he’d been shot in the face at a location near Lizard’s Mouth. But those admissions were ruled inadmissible by Judge William Gordon because the investigator had suggested Rugge could face the death penalty if he didn’t confess. Rugge has never repeated those admissions, and during his trial he testified that he had left the group after they’d arrived at Lizard’s Mouth and had no idea that a murder was in the making. Speaking to the parole boardmembers, Rugge said he took responsibility for Markowitz’s death because his role in the kidnapping precipitated the chain of events that led to the murder. Ron Zonen, who prosecuted Rugge and the other four defendants, termed the admission “shallow and cynical,” and he objected that Rugge has never really acknowledged the depth of his involvement. According to state prison records, Rugge — now 33 — had been a model prisoner, had taken numerous classes, completed his GED, and participated in AA meetings. Rugge had come up for release several times prior, but he had always been turned down. Hollywood was convicted of ordering Markowitz killed and was sentenced to life. Ryan Hoyt, the actual triggerman, was sentenced to death. One of Hoyt’s attorneys was disbarred for professional misconduct shortly after his conviction. Whether Hoyt received competent representation will be the subject of lengthy appeals. — Nick Welsh
news briefs cont’d from p. 13
praised the early completion and explained at the weekend ribbon-cutting that the district was collaborative throughout the process. After a four-year remodeling closure, the Fairview Gardens farm stand in Goleta reopened on 10/18 with a celebration rife with food, drinks, music, and painting. Many supporters, including several city officials, checked out the new digs’ selection of both Fairview produce and that from other area growers. Doug Steigerwald, the nonprofit’s board president, said the stand will be a secure revenue source for the farm, which has previously struggled with fundraising. The stand is open every day 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. at 598 North Fairview Avenue.
help prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia, the rates of which jumped between 2008 and 2012. The money, good from January 2014 through June 2015, will be put toward community outreach and STD counseling, testing, and treatment.
COUNTY The Santa Barbara County Trails Council has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the California Coastal Conservancy to improve the visitor experience along a 22-mile length of the Gaviota Coast. The grant will be used to develop maps designed to foster broad community knowledge of coastal recreation opportunities on one of the largest stretches of undeveloped coastline remaining in Southern California. The maps will be distributed through a community outreach campaign supported by a coalition of nature-focused nonprofit organizations including Los Padres Forest Association and the Wilderness Youth Project. Last week, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to allow the county’s Public Health Department to receive an $18,950 award from the state’s same department to 14
THE INDEPENDENT
ocTobEr 24, 2013
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians Foundation raised $105,000 during its ninth annual charity golf tournament (pictured) that will be evenly distributed among three organizations: Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Santa Barbara County, Dream Foundation, and Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. “To paint a picture of what the golf tournament’s funding will do for us,” said CASA Executive Director Kim Colby Davis, “$35,000 is enough to cover volunteer training for an entire year. … That is more than enough to wipe out our cont’d page 17