Crime & Safety

Murder Charge Filed Against Lakeland Village Man

Jason Lee Schmidt could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted in the slaying of 58-year-old Leopoldo Navarrete.

A murder charge was filed Wednesday against a parolee from Lakeland Village who is accused of killing a Lake Elsinore man whose body was found last month.

Jason Lee Schmidt could face 50 years to life in prison if convicted in the slaying of 58-year-old Leopoldo Navarrete.

Along with the murder count, the 35-year-old defendant faces a sentence- enhancing allegation of using a deadly weapon during a felony and resisting arrest.

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Schmidt is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Southwest Detention Center, with an arraignment continued to Aug. 22 at the Southwest Justice Center. An arraignment scheduled Wednesday was pushed to the later date at the request of the defense.

According to Riverside County sheriff's Sgt. Brian Reno, though it was not disclosed how he was linked to the crime.

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Schmidt was contacted around 4 p.m. Monday at his residence in the 22000 block of Herbert Street in Good Hope and allegedly attempted to flee from deputies. The ex-con was taken into custody after a brief foot chase, Reno said.

Navarrete was reported missing by family members on June 14, leading to a sheriff's investigation that uncovered evidence of foul play, according to Reno.

An all-out, but ultimately futile, search of the local area ensued, during which a sheriff's aviation unit looked for Navarrete, a dive team was employed to plumb Lake Elsinore, and volunteers combed the surrounding terrain, the sergeant said.

However, on July 19, a body was discovered near the intersection of Akley and Gillette streets in Lakeland Village, and the remains were positively identified as the victim's.

The cause of death was not disclosed.

According to court records, Schmidt -- also known as Daniel Lee Yerigan - - has multiple felony convictions, including for burglary, theft and selling narcotics. His most recent conviction was for attempted burglary in 2009, for which he served a year in prison. --City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this story.


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