A bail hearing for the 53-year-old former Riverside County Deputy Sheriff facing murder charges stemming from a June 30 shooting death in Crestline — Steve Michael Baumgartner — has been scheduled for July 30.l (File Photo)
By G.T. Houts
UPDATE – Friday, July 11 – 11:46 a.m.
San Bernardino, CA – Judge Annemarie Pace has set a bail /own recognizance hearing for Wednesday, July 30, for Crestline murder suspect Steve Michael Baumgartner, 53, for 8:30 a.m. in Department S-17.
Steve Michael Baumgartner (Facebook Photo)
Baumgartner, who appeared before Judge Pace for a disposition/reset hearing Friday morning (July 11), was informed of the hearing following an off the record, court and counsel hearing in chambers.
Judge Pace also set two additional hearings — a pre-preliminary hearing for August 5 and a preliminary hearing August 8. Both hearings are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. in Department S-17.
Baumgartner remains in custody on $1 million bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. He is being represented by Deputy Public Defender Dan Messner and prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Rosa Clark.
THE CASE
Baumgartner, a former Riverside County Deputy Sheriff, is accused of the June 30 shooting death of 38-year-old Michael Paul Clark in the 23000 block of Wildwood Lane in Crestline. The two men were next door neighbors.
ORIGINAL STORY
Crestline, CA – Crestline murder suspect — Steve Michael Baumgartner, 53 — returns to San Bernardino County Superior Court for a disposition/reset hearing at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 11. Baumgartner is charged with the June 30 murder of 38-year-old Michael Paul Clark in the 23000 block of Wildwood Lane.
Baumgartner is being held on $1 million bail at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. On Wednesday, July 2, Baumgartner entered a not guilty plea before Judge Douglas Gericke. He also denied special allegations.
Judge Gericke appointed the public defender to represent the former Riverside County Deputy Sheriff (1990-1998) and denied a request to be released on his own recognizance. Friday’s hearing will also confirm counsel.
THE CASE
Baumgartner reportedly shot Clark –his next door neighbor — in the face with a .357 Magnum after the two men got in an argument outside Clark’s home.
Numerous 9-1-1 callers told dispatchers about the incident that occurred about 5:14 p.m., June 30. First responders transported Clark to St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino where he was pronounced dead at 6:09 p.m.
Baumgartner was detained by deputies at 5:22 p.m. He was formally arrested after he was questioned by homicide detectives who arrived at 7:35 p.m.
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