Death Penalty Sought

Holly Pleads Not Guilty In Jersey Bridgeman Case

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

— Prosecutors will seek the death penalty for the Bentonville man accused of murdering 6-year-old Jersey Bridgeman.

Zachary Dwayne Holly, 28, is charged with capital murder, rape and kidnapping, all Class Y felonies. He is also charged with residential burglary, a Class B felony. Holly appeared in court Monday morning where he pleaded not guilty to each of the charges.

Holly
Holly

One of Holly’s attorneys, Madison P. Aydelott III, told Circuit Judge Robin Green he had reviewed the charges with Holly and advised him of the possible punishments for each charge.

Holly’s only words during the hearing were “not guilty,” which he said when Green asked for his plea.

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Van Stone said after the hearing that his office will seek the death penalty.

Under Arkansas law, at least one of 10 aggravating factors must exist before prosecutors can seek the death penalty. Stone declined to specify which factor or factors exist in this case.

Bentonville police received a call at 6:43 a.m. Nov. 20 about a missing child, according to a probable cause affidavit.

DesaRae Bridgeman told police her daughter was with the Holly family while she was at work, according to court documents. Holly and his wife often baby-sat Jersey and her younger sister when Bridgeman and her boyfriend worked.

At A Glance

Holly Charges

Zachary Holly faces either life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted of capital murder. A kidnapping conviction is punishable with a prison sentence of 10 to 40 years, or life imprisonment. Holly faces from 25 to 40 years, or life imprisonment, if convicted of rape. A rape conviction normally carries a sentence of 10 to 40 years, or life in prison. A conviction of raping a child 13 or younger, however, carries a minimum sentence of 25 years. Capital murder, kidnapping and rape are classified as Class Y felonies. Residential burglary, a Class B felony, is punishable with a prison sentence ranging from five years to 20 years.

Source: Staff Report

Holly carried Jersey while Bridgeman carried her other daughter home after work, Bridgeman told police. They placed the girls in the same bed, according to the affidavit. Bridgeman discovered Jersey missing when she woke up shortly after 6:30 a.m.

Holly told police he woke up at 3:35 a.m. with an upset stomach and walked to the E-Z Mart at Southwest Eighth and A streets to get medication, according to court documents. Police obtained a video from the store and a sales tape showing Holly made the purchase. Bridgeman’s live-in boyfriend, Brandon Crouch, worked the overnight shift at the E-Z Mart during that time, according to court documents.

Police found Jersey’s body in an empty house next door to Holly’s. A medical examiner determined she died from asphyxia, according to court records.

Green allowed the Benton County Public Defender’s Office to withdraw from assisting with Holly’s defense. Deputy Public Defender Sarah Ashley represented the girl’s father — David Bridgeman — in his case after he was arrested for chaining Jersey to a dresser about a year before her death.

Green appointed Fayetteville attorney Kent McLemore to assist Aydelott with Holly’s defense.

Holly’s next court appearance is set for 8:30 a.m. Feb. 28. His arraignment was in Green’s court, but his case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Brad Karren.

Holly is being held without bond in the Benton County Jail.

At A Glance

Aggravating Circumstance

Arkansas requires one or more aggravating circumstance to exist in order for prosecutors to seek the death penalty. Aggravating circumstances are:

• The capital murder was committed by a person imprisoned as a result of a felony conviction.

• The capital murder was committed by a person unlawfully at liberty after being sentenced to imprisonment as a result of a felony conviction.

• The person previously committed another felony, an element of which was the use or threat or violence to another person, or the creation of a substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to another person.

• The person in the commission of the capital murder knowingly created a great risk of death to a person other than the victim or caused the death of more than one person in the same criminal episode.

• The capital murder was committed for the purpose of avoiding or preventing an arrest or effecting an escape from custody.

• The capital murder was committed for pecuniary gain.

• The capital murder was committed for the purpose of disrupting or hindering the lawful exercise of any government or political function.

• The capital murder was committed in an especially cruel or depraved manner.

• The capital murder was committed by means of destructive device, bomb, explosive or similar device and was concealed and the person knew that his or her act would create a great risk of death to human life.

• The capital murder was committed against a person whom the defendant knew, or reasonably should have known, was especially vulnerable because the person was temporary or permanently disabled and the disability would interfere with the victim’s ability to flee, or the person was 12 years or age or younger.

Source: Staff Report