The man facing a murder charge for the death of another man on a neighborhood street in Rincon entered a guilty plea in court Tuesday.
Jeremy Dean Lambert entered a guilty plea on two lesser felony offenses in exchange for the dismissal of the remaining felony charges he was facing, including murder.
Background
According to court records, between 11:45 p.m. on October 26, 2024 and 12:10 a.m. on October 27, 2024, Jeremy Dean Lambert struck Steven Schmidt, a pedestrian, while he was driving a 2021 Jeep Cherokee on Willowpeg Way in Rincon. Lambert left Greenside Bar in Lost Plantation after attending a party with his girlfriend, Ansleigh Parrish.
Lambert narrowly missed 70-year-old Schmidt who was walking on the side of the road. Schmidt reportedly shined a flashlight into the window to show Lambert he was in the road and Lambert reversed the Jeep, left the roadway, hit a mailbox, and struck Schmidt. He then left the scene. Schmidt was transported to a hospital in Savannah where he later died.
The Rincon Police Department executed a warrant for Lambert’s arrest on one count of Homicide by Vehicle in the 1st degree for causing the death of Schmidt and for leaving the scene of the crash prior to the emergency personnel arriving on scene. During the course of the investigation, RPD ventured to Lambert’s home where they discovered an “overwhelming odor of marijuana.”
Shortly thereafter, investigators with the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office took out warrants for Lambert’s arrest on a number of drug charges following a search of Lambert’s home. According to court records, investigators located what they believed to be 6 ounces of marijuana, marijuana within a grow room equipped with lights, fans, and irrigation equipment, and several glass smoking pipes. Ansleigh Parrish was also arrested on the drug charges as well as False Statements and Writings.
Lambert was later indicted on a host of felony charges, including Murder, Aggravated Assault, Homicide by Vehicle (1st degree), Manufacture of Marijuana, Manufacture of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Marijuana More than One Ounce, Possession of Tools for Commission of a Crime, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, and Possession of Drug Related Objects (a misdemeanor).
Felony charges for Manufacture/Deliver/Distribution/Possess w/ Intent to Distribute a Controlled Substance (Schedule I or Schedule II), Possession of a Schedule I Controlled Substance, and Hit and Run Resulting in Serious Injury or Death were also presented to grand jury but did not result in a True Bill of Indictment, according to court records.
Lambert retained Cris Schneider and Courtney Lerch to represent him.
Trial Scheduled, Then Cancelled
The case was scheduled for jury trial this week, but last week, Lambert filed a waiver of his right to jury trial and the case was also placed on the calendar for a plea.
Lambert agreed to a Negotiated Plea, which means the terms of the plea were agreed to by prosecutors and defense attorneys before it was presented to the judge. Lambert entered a plea as follows:
- Murder – Nolle Prosse
- Aggravated Assault – Nolle Prosse
- Homicide by Vehicle – 1st degree – GUILTY PLEA
- Manufacture Marijuana – GUILTY PLEA
- Manufacture Marijuana w/ Intent to Distribute – Nolle Prosse
- Possession of MArijuana More than 1oz – – Nolle Prosse
- Possession of Tools for Commission of a Crime – Nolle Prosse
- Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony – Nolle Prosse
- Possession of Drug Related Objects
Senior Judge John Turner sentenced Lambert to serve 10 years in prison followed by fifteen years on probation. He was also ordered to pay a $2,500 fine, complete 200 hours of community service, and complete a substance abuse evaluation.
Greenside Bar & Grill and Lambert are both named in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Schmidt family. That civil suit is ongoing.
