Dec. 03--PASCAGOULA -- Steven Michael Brown Sr., 55, pleaded guilty Monday to a charge of capital murder and third-degree arson in the Aug. 8 shooting death of a Biloxi man in Gautier.
Circuit Court Judge Dale Harkey sentenced Brown to life in prison without the possibility of parole for capital murder plus three years for the arson to run concurrent with the capital murder sentence. In addition, the judge fined Brown $11,000 and ordered him to have no contact with the victim's family.
Brown admitted to shooting to death Jacob "Jack" Thomas Markowitz, 61, of Biloxi. Markowitz was shot twice in the head.
Gautier police were responding to a report of a vehicle fire Aug. 8, 2012, on Firestone Road at Mississippi 57 just south of Interstate 10 when they found Markowitz dead in the cab of his truck. Police said Brown shot Markowitz during an armed robbery and then set his pickup truck on fire.
Authorities said Brown was acquainted with Markowitz through business dealings. Markowitz bought and sold catalytic converters and Brown was in the scrap metal business, doing work at times for Markowitz.
Markowitz's partner, Tamara "Tammi" Goggins, has described him as a devoted family man who loved life, cooking, reading and playing poker. Texas Hold 'em was his speciality.
District Attorney Tony Lawrence said after the sentencing: "On Aug. 8, 2012, the defendant took advantage of the kindness and generosity that was shown to him by the victim. He robbed, shot and burned the one man who never turned his back on him when all others did.
"While the plea today will not bring their loved one back, the family, fiance and friends of Jack Markowitz left behind are satisfied with the court's sentence. I am proud of the hard work of the Gautier Police Department, Mississippi Bureau of Investigations Crime Scene Unit team and the Baldwin County Sheriff's Department who worked tirelessly on this investigation and helped us achieve the result in court today."
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