BREAKING NEWS

A Palm Springs man has been charged with murder and grand theft in the death of Garvin F. Shallenberger, a noted attorney and Laguna Beach resident, who was found dead in his Palm Desert vacation home Sept. 30. Shallenberger was 85.

The cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy, said Ingrid Wyatt, a spokeswoman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s office.

Shallenberger’s body was discovered on the floor of his mobile home at 8:09 p.m. by a friend, according to a press release issued by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Dept.

Michael Salvador Anunciation, 46, was booked into the Indio jail on $2 million bail on Oct. 11 and arraigned Friday, Oct. 13, on one count of premeditated murder of Shallenberger, and of theft. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges, Wyatt said.

“It appeared to be a random encounter,” Wyatt said. “Mr. Shallenberger was murdered by the suspect, who then stole items from the home.”

Police allege that Anunciation took Shallenberger’s laptop computer; two cordless phones; an answering machine; a cellphone; and a fanny pack with a wallet, ID cards and credit cards after the murder.

The investigation is ongoing, Wyatt added.

Shallenberger had a long and distinguished legal career. He was admitted to the State Bar in June 1949 and served as president of the State Bar of California Board of Governors from 1977- 78.

In 1978, he received the Franklin G. West Award from the Orange County Bar Assn. The award is that bar association’s highest honor and is presented to “outstanding attorneys and judges whose lifetime achievements have advanced justice and the law,” according to the association’s website.