A judge ruled today that a 48-year-old Perris man must stand trial in the 1985 shooting death of a retired Riverside police officer-turned-security guard, who was gunned down during a robbery at a shopping center.

Leslie Gene Parker is charged with a single count of first-degree murder and a special circumstance allegation of murder during the commission of a robbery in connection with Frederick A. Taylor’s Dec. 16, 1985, slaying.

Riverside Superior Court Judge Patrick F. Magers, who presided over the preliminary hearing that lasted several hours over three court days, ruled there was enough evidence to proceed, noting a "strong suspicion the offenses have occurred."

A post-indictment arraignment in the case is set for April 3.

Taylor was killed during a robbery at the Tyler Mall. The injured robber left behind a blood trail, including stains found inside the robbers’ getaway car, a stolen Datsun B-210 compact, according to testimony.

That evidence was processed and — nearly 22 years later — allegedly matched to Leslie Parker, whose DNA had been collected and stored in a federal database after he was convicted in a separate case, according to court documents.

Riverside County Deputy District Attorney John Molloy said District Attorney Rod Pacheco likely will make a decision in the next six weeks on whether to seek the death penalty for the defendant.

Outside court, the defendant’s attorney, Brent Romney, would not comment on specifics in the case, saying only, "It’s an utter tragedy — then and now."

Parker has been held without bail at the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta since his arrest last May.

—From news services

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