'Alpha Dog' prosecutor can stay on case

SAN FRANCISCO, May 13 (UPI) -- The California Supreme Court has ruled a Santa Barbara County prosecutor can stay on a case even though he consulted on a film about it.

The Los Angeles Times said the court determined that Deputy District Attorney Ronald Zonen could stay on the Jesse James Hollywood case even after he worked as an unpaid consultant on "Alpha Dog," a movie about the fugitive and accused killer.

Zonen gave the filmmakers his file on Hollywood in hopes the publicity might help catch him.

An appellate court then attempted to remove Zonen from the case, arguing he helped in "the public vilification" of a man who was to stand trial for an alleged murder that could end in the death penalty.

The California Supreme Court Monday decided that while Zonen's actions may have been inappropriate, the appeals court acted too severely in trying to yank him from the case since a trial judge hadn't determined Zonen's actions endangered the defendant's right to a fair trial.

Hollywood's father worked as a paid consultant on the film, the Times noted.