Crestline murder suspect Steve Michael Baumgartner, 53, will return to court on Tuesday, August 26, for a pre-preliminary hearing. He is accused of the shooting death of his neighbor,m Michael Paul Clark. (File Photo)
By G. T. Houts
San Bernardino, CA - A pre-preliminary hearing has been set for Crestline murder suspect Steve Michael Baumgartner, 53, for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, August 26, in Department S-17.
Steve Michael Baumgartner (Facebook Photo)
Bail for Baumgartner is set at $1.75 million and he remains in custody 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
The 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.
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. (10)