'Alpha Dog' drug dealer convicted

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Drug dealer Jesse James Hollywood, whose crimes inspired the 2007 film Alpha Dog starring Justin Timberlake, has been found guilty of murder.

He was convicted of kidnapping and killing Nicholas Markowitz, 15, in California in August 2000 over debts owed by his half-brother.

Hollywood, 29, fled after the slaying and was eventually captured in Brazil.

Four others have already been convicted in connection with the crime. Hollywood could now face the death penalty.

Hollywood stared straight ahead of him as the verdict was read.

"I can't believe they found him guilty of murder," his father Jack Hollywood said outside the Santa Barbara Superior Courtroom.

The victim's parents said they were relieved but declined to comment further because of a gag order issued in the case. Prosecutors and defence lawyers also declined to speak.

Sentencing is due to begin on Monday.

Escalating dispute

The victim Nicholas Markowitz was taken to Santa Barbara and held for several days before being shot and buried in a shallow grave.

Hollywood took the stand in his own defence, a move legal experts say is rare and potentially risky.

I feel terrible that anyone would think I could do something like that Jesse James Hollywood <a class="" href="/2/hi/americas/8141731.stm">Blurring true crime and fiction</a>

He testified that he and two friends grabbed Markowitz off a street in the San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles but did not order the teenager's murder.

"I just feel terrible about everything that happened," Hollywood testified.

"I feel terrible for the Markowitz family. I feel terrible that anyone would think I could do something like that."

He said the teenager was taken in an escalating dispute between him and the boy's older half-brother, Ben Markowitz.

Hollywood, an admitted marijuana dealer, said Ben Markowitz owed him a $2,500 drug debt - more than twice the amount prosecutors have cited.

Hollywood said he was afraid after Ben Markowitz left threatening messages, poisoned his dog and broke a window at his home, only hours before Nicholas was abducted.

Hollywood called the taking of Nicholas irrational and not well-thought out.

Hollywood said Ryan Hoyt, the gunman who was convicted and sentenced to death, acted on his own because of concern about Ben Markowitz finding out about the abduction.

'Alpha Dog'

Hollywood also said the gun used to kill Nicholas was once his but that he gave it to Hoyt months before the murder.

Prosecutors did not call Hoyt as a witness - the one person who could definitely say if Hollywood ordered the slaying.

Also left out of Hollywood's trial were Jesse Rugge and William Skidmore, two others convicted in the case.

Prosecutors contend Hollywood decided to get rid of Nicholas after learning from an attorney that he could face life in prison for kidnapping.

They also believe the murder was a way for Hoyt to settle his own drug debt with Hollywood.

Alpha Dog - the movie inspired by the case - starred Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone and Emile Hirsch, who played Johnny Truelove, a character based on Hollywood.