Man charged with murder in fatal fentanyl overdose of 40-year-old man in Norco

A person suspected in the fentanyl-related overdose death of a 40-year-old man in Norco last year was charged Friday with murder, officials said.

On Nov. 19, Riverside County sheriff’s deputies found an unresponsive man at the intersection of Stagecoach Drive and Roundup Road in Norco. The victim was identified as 40-year-old Jason Schmuch; he was pronounced dead at the scene, sheriff’s officials said in a statement Friday.

Investigators later found evidence consistent with a fentanyl overdose, and the coroner’s office confirmed Schmuch died due to fentanyl poisoning.

Johnnie Stevens was identified as a person of interest in the case, and deputies searched Stevens’ residence at the 5000 block of Trail Street in Norco; they allegedly found fentanyl, methamphetamine and paraphernalia  Additionally, deputies found that Stevens’ daughter had access to the drugs, and Stevens was arrested on suspicion of child endangerment at his residence. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center. according to Friday’s statement.

At that time, Stevens was charged with possession of controlled substances and enrolled in a drug diversion program, court records show. The investigation into Schmuch’s death continued.

On Wednesday, April 24, Stevens was found in Anaheim and arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the death, and possession of controlled substances, the sheriff’s statement said.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office filed murder charges against Stevens on Friday, officials said.

Stevens is held in lieu of $1 million bail, arrest records show.

Anyone with additional information can contact Investigator Shaffer at 951–955–1700.