PLACERVILLE, Calif. — The criminal case against Steven Carter, the 66-year-old Camino man accused of shooting two El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies and a PG&E contract worker, is moving forward after previous court proceedings were affected by transportation delays.
During a court appearance Aug. 21 before El Dorado County Superior Court Judge Mark A. Ralphs, the court established two September dates that will advance the case toward a preliminary hearing.
The pre-preliminary hearing is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Sept. 4, 2026, followed by a full-day preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 24, 2026.
Both proceedings are scheduled in Department 2 of the El Dorado County Courthouse, 495 Main St., Placerville.
Carter remains in custody without bail.
March shooting brought deputies, SWAT to Camino
The charges stem from the March 12 shooting on Mountain View Drive in Camino, where a PG&E crew was working when a worker was shot.
According to authorities, El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies responded to the area at approximately 7:25 a.m. after the utility crew reported that someone had fired at them. One PG&E contract worker suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and was transported to a hospital. He was released later that day.
The incident developed into a prolonged standoff after Carter was located inside a residence. A SWAT team was called to the scene as deputies attempted to de-escalate the situation and establish contact with the suspect.
After more than three hours, gunfire erupted. Two El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies and Carter were wounded in the exchange. The deputies were identified as J. Stillman and C. Reimche.
The Sheriff’s Office said the deputies were recovering from their injuries and expressed gratitude for the support they received from the community. Both deputies were subsequently released from the hospital and continued their recovery.
Multiple attempted murder charges
Carter faces multiple felony counts of attempted murder in connection with the March shooting.
The preliminary hearing will be an important procedural step in the criminal case. At a preliminary hearing, prosecutors present evidence to establish whether there is sufficient cause for the defendant to be held to answer for the charged offenses. It is not a trial and does not determine guilt or innocence.
Carter is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
The March incident drew significant attention in Camino and throughout El Dorado County because it involved both law enforcement officers and a utility worker performing work in a residential neighborhood.
Bob Dean, business manager for International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1245, which represents the wounded utility worker, described the risks faced by workers in the field following the shooting.
“No worker should ever have to worry about violence from the very people they are there to help.”
September hearings will move case forward
The Sept. 4 pre-preliminary hearing will come first, with the more extensive preliminary hearing scheduled three weeks later on Sept. 24.
For residents following the case, both hearings are scheduled to take place at the El Dorado County Courthouse in downtown Placerville.
The case also comes as California lawmakers have considered additional protections for utility workers following a series of reported threats and violent incidents involving utility crews. A state Senate committee advanced legislation in 2026 that would increase penalties for certain attacks against utility workers.
For El Dorado County residents, however, the immediate focus remains on the criminal proceedings arising from the March 12 confrontation in Camino.
The next scheduled court date is Sept. 4 at 8:30 a.m. in Department 2.
The preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 24 at 8:30 a.m., also in Department 2.
As the case proceeds, those hearings are expected to provide the next significant public developments in the prosecution of Carter.
Sources: El Dorado County Superior Court proceedings; El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office information as reported by regional news organizations; CBS Sacramento; KCRA; Sacramento Bee.
