Godfather of Fugitive Held in Colorado

The godfather of Jesse James Hollywood surrendered to Colorado police after allegedly helping him evade arrest in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old West Hills boy, authorities said Thursday.

Richard Dispenza, 47, of Woodland Park, a small town near Colorado Springs, turned himself in late Wednesday and was booked on suspicion of harboring a fugitive, a felony. He posted $5,000 bail, police said.

Colorado authorities said Dispenza, who coaches the varsity football team at Woodland Park High School, initially lied to them about the whereabouts of Hollywood, 20, of West Hills, a suspect in the kidnapping death of Nicholas Markowitz.

After learning that Hollywood might be staying with his godfather in Woodland Park, police questioned Dispenza last Friday about any contact he may have had with the fugitive, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department.

Police said Dispenza told them that Hollywood had stayed at his Bridle Drive home on Aug. 16 but had left the area. Hollywood’s vehicle was later found near Dispenza’s home.

But Colorado Springs police said Dispenza rented a room for Hollywood at a Ramada Inn in Colorado Springs on Aug. 17. Dispenza put the room in his own name but told the clerk that the room was for another party, police said.

“On the night he’s being interviewed by detectives, he claims he has no idea where Hollywood is,” said Lt. Mike Burridge of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department, the lead investigating agency. “But we find out that he wasn’t completely forthcoming. He was clearly deceptive.”

Dispenza’s mother, Katherine, who lives in North Hills, said she spoke to her son Thursday and he told her that Hollywood had suddenly showed up on his doorstep.

“He hadn’t seen Jesse in four or five years,” she said. “The kid said he was in trouble but didn’t say what kind of trouble. My son told him to go to the cops.

“As far as the hotel room is concerned, the kid paid with cash. My son is innocent. He’s in total shock right now.”

Katherine Dispenza said her son formerly had football coaching jobs at Alemany High School in Mission Hills and Chaminade High in West Hills.

Police believe Markowitz was kidnapped Aug. 6 and eventually killed because his older brother owed Hollywood $36,000 for marijuana. Markowitz’s body was found Aug. 12 by a group of hikers in the mountains north of Santa Barbara.

Three of Hollywood’s boyhood friends--all former teammates on a youth baseball team--and a 17-year-old Goleta boy face murder, kidnapping and conspiracy charges. They are scheduled to be arraigned today in Santa Barbara Superior Court.

Police believe that Hollywood orchestrated the kidnapping but wasn’t present when Markowitz was shot to death. While the other suspects were arrested within days after the victim was found, Hollywood has managed to elude detectives--staying at the luxurious Bellagio Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas and at the homes of friends, police say, before moving on to Colorado.

At one friend’s home in Colorado Springs, Burridge said, Hollywood dropped off an AR-15 rifle and a 12-gauge shotgun. Hollywood is believed to still be armed with a handgun, Burridge said.

Colorado police are receiving about 20 to 30 calls every day with information about Hollywood, but none has led to his arrest. Authorities are offering a cash reward of up to $2,000 for providing information that leads to his arrest and conviction.