A Redding man convicted final month of capturing, torturing and burning to demise a member of a outstanding native household was sentenced Monday to life in jail with out the opportunity of parole.
Shasta County Superior Court docket Choose Jody Burgess handed down the sentence to Steven Schlapia, but additionally informed the 60-year-old man he has seen few, if any, felony instances extra “grisly” and “evil” than the one he dedicated.
Burgess stated that he was haunted by what occurred to 47-year-old Jimmy Schwerdt in March 2022 and puzzled whether or not Schlapia additionally was troubled by the reminiscences of what he did.
“I might be doing one thing random and start to think about what you’ve got accomplished,” Burgess stated. “I do not perceive it. I can not make sense of it.”
At one level Schlapia, who sat in a wheelchair, shook his head, however Burgess stopped him and informed him, “I do not need you to speak.”
What occurred the day of the homicide, in keeping with regulation enforcement and courtroom statements, was that Schwerdt went to Schlapia’s home northeast of Redding to gather a bike taken from him.
Burgess stated Schlapia shot Schwerdt 3 times as he walked up the driveway to Schlapia’s home. After the capturing, Schwerdt pleaded for his life.
A pal informed sheriff’s deputies he heard Schwerdt yell out, “I can not really feel my toes! What are you doing, bro?”
After which a reply from Schlapia, “Does it really feel good, bro? I’ll kill your loved ones!”
After the capturing, Schlapia lit Schwerdt on fireplace, attacked him with metallic a pipe after which slammed a door on high of him, Senior Deputy District Legal professional Kelly Kafel stated through the trial.
Members of Schwerdt’s household stated in courtroom Monday that the killing left them shattered.
Schwerdt’s mother and father, Jim and Nancy Schwerdt, have been closely concerned at Enterprise Excessive Faculty for a few years.
Be aware to readers: Should you respect the work we do right here on the Redding Document Searchlight, please consider subscribing your self or giving the reward of a subscription to somebody you already know.
Jim Schwerdt was a trainer on the college, the place he coached a number of sports activities and was at one time the varsity’s athletic director. Nancy Schwerdt labored within the well being and counseling division on the college for many years.
The Enterprise Excessive Faculty basketball courtroom is called after Jim Schwerdt. Jimmy Schwerdt and each of his mother and father graduated from Enterprise.
After she came upon about her son’s demise, Nancy Schwerdt stated mates came over at her dwelling.
“I could not cease crying. After I started to listen to a number of of the main points of Jimmy’s demise, I informed my husband I felt like I used to be watching a horror film, however I used to be proper in the midst of it,” she stated in courtroom Monday.
A lot of these mates, in addition to members of Schwerdt’s household, stuffed the courtroom Monday for the sentencing. Jim and Nancy Schwerdt and their son’s spouse, Religion, learn statements about how the killing affected them.
“There is not a day that goes by that I do not take into consideration Jimmy, miss his lovely character and want he was nonetheless right here so I may inform him how a lot I really like him. You took him away from me and I do not suppose I can ever forgive you for that,” Nancy Schwerdt stated in courtroom, talking on to Schlapia.
At occasions, as members of the family learn their statements, Schlapia dabbed at his eyes and appeared to cry. However Burgess stated he didn’t imagine Schlapia had any regret for killing Schwerdt.
The choose stated Schlapia was the alternative of remorseful, noting that his legal professional, Michael Borges, argued through the trial that his consumer acted out of “self-preservation” as a result of he thought Schwerdt was armed and was intent on utilizing a weapon in opposition to him.
Along with life in jail with out parole, the choose additionally sentenced Schlapia to an extra 27 years and one other 5-years-to-life sentence, in keeping with the district legal professional’s workplace.
Jim Schwerdt stated in courtroom Monday he felt the capturing went far past self-defense.
“Did he worry for his life when he tortured, beat him (Jimmy Schwerdt) and verbally threatened to kill him and his household whereas he lay paralyzed on the bottom? Was he threatened for his life when Jimmy pleaded with him to cease? Threatened together with his life when he shot him at the back of his head, poured gasoline on him and lit him on fireplace and put a door on his physique that stated ‘F— you a–hole?” Jim Schwerdt stated in his courtroom assertion.
Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story ideas at 530-338-8834, by e mail at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Assist native journalism thrive by subscribing today!
This text initially appeared on Redding Document Searchlight: Redding man gets life in prison in shooting, beating and torture death
