Trial Begins for Sepulveda Pair Accused of Murder-Robbery Rampage

Two Sepulveda men who a prosecutor said decided to go out and “make some money,” then committed a four-hour series of robberies and murders in Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley, went on trial Monday in San Fernando Superior Court.

J. D. Adams Jr., 25, could be sentenced to death if convicted of the charges against him--two counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, six counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.

Being tried on the same charges is Chester Longmire, 26, who allegedly drove the getaway car and acted as a lookout while Adams and another man, James E. Jennings, 24, of Sepulveda attacked the victims. Prosecutors are not seeking the death penalty against Longmire because he did not personally kill the victims, Deputy Dist. Atty. Frederick G. Stewart said.

Stewart said in his opening statements Monday that Longmire had admitted driving the car and collecting a share of the less than $1,000 taken in the robberies, but that he told officials he “did not intend to hurt anyone.”

Jennings Plea Bargain

Jennings already has pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder. In a plea bargain with prosecutors, the other charges against him were dropped and he agreed to testify against Adams and Longmire. Jennings could be sentenced to 50 years to life in prison when he appears for sentencing Sept. 13, Stewart said.

Judge John H. Major predicted that the trial will last about two months. Two juries are hearing the evidence, one for each defendant, because of the possible death penalty for Adams.

In his opening statement, Stewart said the crime rampage began on the evening of July 22, 1982. “They decided to go out and, in the words of one witness who will testify, ‘make some money’ by commiting robberies,” Stewart said.

Adams took a curved, 15-inch butcher knife and a steak knife, and the men drove off, Stewart said, accompanied by Longmire’s girlfriend, Murlene Miller. Miller testified against the three men at a preliminary hearing in return for immunity from prosecution, and is expected to be a witness at the trial.

Adams and Jennings allegedly confronted three women in the parking lot of Josephina’s restaurant on Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks and stole their purses at knifepoint.

Fatal Stabbing

Stewart said the group then drove to Hollywood, where Adams and Jennings stalked 54-year-old Joseph Gulvas as he left a restaurant at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Gower Street. Stewart said Adams fatally stabbed Gulvas in the back when he resisted the robbery.

The prosecutor said the group then drove to a market at the corner of Highland and Franklin avenues, where Adams and Jennings robbed a 47-year-old man.

On Jennings’ suggestion, they then drove to a Motel 6 in Sylmar, Stewart said, where they began knocking on doors and asking to be let in.

The motel manager, Kenneth Holbrook, and his wife “were awakened by pounding on their door,” Stewart said. “He opened the door. Adams and Jennings burst into the room.”

The men stole some valuables from the couple’s apartment, and ordered the Holbrooks to lay on the floor, the prosecutor said. Adams then stabbed the Holbrooks in the back, killing Kenneth Holbrook, 51, and seriously injuring his wife, he said.

Attorneys for Adams and Longmire said they will make their opening statements to the jury later.