Lake Elsinore Murder Trial: Not Guilty Plea For Accused Shooter

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — A man accused of fatally shooting a 38-year-old Lake Elsinore resident pleaded not guilty Thursday to murder and other charges.

Steven Saul Vargas, 33, of Lake Elsinore was arrested last month following a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into the slaying of Brian Rivas.

Along with murder, Vargas is charged with sentence-enhancing gun and great bodily injury allegations.

He was arraigned Thursday before Superior Court Judge Judith Clark, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for Nov. 18 at the Southwest Justice Center in Murrieta.

The defendant is being held in lieu of $2 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center.

According to sheriff's Sgt. Alberto Loureiro, shortly before 8 p.m. on Sept. 14, there was an unspecified confrontation between Vargas and Rivas at a home in the 28000 block of Wells Fargo Lane, near El Toro Road.

During the argument, the defendant allegedly pulled a handgun and opened fire, killing the victim on the spot, Loureiro said.

It was unclear whether Vargas remained at the scene or fled. No one was immediately detained for questioning.

The sergeant said the investigation was turned over to Central Homicide Unit detectives, who gathered evidence and statements in the ensuing three days that pointed to the defendant as the alleged shooter.

Vargas was taken into custody without incident on La Sierra Avenue in Riverside on the afternoon of Sept. 17.

He has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. However, he has an unresolved drug possession case from January.