Jury Convicts Schimmel Of Baby Steven’s Murder

Breaking News:

Reported by Alex Wilson

After a day and a half of deliberation, the Ventura County Superior Court jury in the case of Jayson Schimmel brought back guilty verdicts Wednesday, June 1.

The Lockwood Valley resident was convictd on all three counts regarding the injury and death of his two month old baby, Steven.

Judge Patricia Murphy read the jury’s verdict. Schimmel was found guilty of assault of a child causing death, which carries a 25 years-to-life sentence; guilty of second degree murder; and guilty of count three, which was inflicting corporal injury on a child (in a separate incident). Testimony was heard by the jury that Schimmel “head-butted” his son. Earlier, he was said to have squeezed the baby’s shoulder blades together, fracturing bones.

Sentencing has been set for July 18. Schimmel showed little visible reaction in the courtroom. Elizabeth Hill, formerly of Frazier Park, the baby’s mother, was not present for the reading of the verdict. [Audio files from the trial can be heard at www. MountainEnterprise.com, by arrangement with KVTA.]

This is part of the June 03, 2011 online edition of The Mountain Enterprise.

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