Career
His trial started in April 2002. He was the get away driver when Nicholas was abducted, and was in charge of watching him during his kidnapping. He also tied Nicholas"s hands together and put duct tape over his mouth right before his execution and helped Ryan Hoyt bury the body.
In September 2002 Rugge was sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after seven years.
Rugge was incarcerated in Avenal State Prison for his part in Nicholas Markowitz"s murder. His parole in 2006 was denied.
The mother of the victim, Susan Markowitz, started a petition to try to have Rugge"s parole denied. However, on July 2nd, 2013, Jesse Rugge was granted parole, and he was released from prison on October 24th, 2013.
In the film Alpha Dog he is portrayed as the character Frankie Ballenbacher by actor and musician Justin Timberlake.
