The 53-year-old former Riverside County Deputy Sheriff facing murder charges stemming from a June 30 shooting death in Crestline — Steve Michael Baumgartner — returns to court July 11 for a disposition/reset hearing., (File Photo)
By G.T. Houts
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.
Steve Michael Baumgartner (Facebook Photo)
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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