Deleon charged with plot to murder father

The alleged mastermind of the murder of a retired Newport Beach couple has been charged with soliciting the murder of his father and a witness, the Orange County District Attorney’s office said Friday.

Skylar Deleon, 26, allegedly asked a fellow inmate to kill his father, John Jacobson Sr., and his cousin, Mike Lewis. Lewis is also in custody on charges that he was involved with Deleon in the 2003 murder of an Anaheim man.

Lewis and Deleon’s father are described as “witnesses.”

Deleon, of Long Beach, is one of five people awaiting trial in the killing of Tom and Jackie Hawks in November 2004. The Hawks were allegedly tied to the anchor of their yacht and thrown overboard alive.

Deleon’s wife, Jennifer Henderson-Deleon, is also awaiting trial in connection with the Hawks’ murders.

Ryan Hawks, the son of the murdered couple, said he was “appalled” at Deleon’s alleged actions, but not surprised about the recent charges against Deleon.

“It just puts Skylar [Deleon] more in the hole, because if he’s trying to plead not guilty, why is he trying to kill these witnesses?” Ryan Hawks said.

Ryan Hawks, 30, said prosecutors have told him they will seek the death penalty for the alleged murders of his father and stepmother. The district attorney’s office has not confirmed whether they will seek the death penalty, but special circumstance allegations qualify the charge as a capital crime.

Newport Beach detectives, who have spearheaded the Hawks’ murder investigation since it began as a missing persons case, obtained information several months ago that led to the murder solicitation charges against Deleon, Newport Beach Sgt. Bill Hartford said.

Deleon has been in jail since December 2004, when he was arrested on money-laundering charges related to the alleged purchase of the Hawks’ 55-foot yacht, Well Deserved. Police believe that Deleon and his pregnant wife swindled the Hawks into believing they were interested in buying the boat, which was listed for sale at more than $400,000. Deleon, with two other accomplices ? John F. Kennedy, 40, and Alonso Machain, 22 ? allegedly killed the Hawks aboard the boat during a test drive off Catalina Island.

In August 2005, Deleon, with his wife and cousin, Lewis, were charged in connection to a third, unrelated murder. Anaheim resident John Jarvi, 45, was found with his throat slashed in Mexico.

Deleon is scheduled to be arraigned on the new charges at 10 a.m. Monday in Orange County Superior Court at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.