Pacific County Superior Court

Published 8:07 am Tuesday, April 23, 2024

SOUTH BEND — The following cases were among the hearings on the April 19 Pacific County Superior Court docket:

Duane B. Elkins, 47 — He was arrested on March 12 for allegedly plotting to blow up a couple living next to him in an apartment complex in Long Beach. Elkins confessed his plans to a counselor, who quickly reported the danger to law enforcement.

He pleaded guilty to one count of felony harassment in a plea agreement. The standard range for the charge with his offender score 0 was 1-3 months. The Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office recommended Elkins be sentenced to 38 days in jail with credit for time served.

Judge Donald J. Richter accepted the plea and sentence recommendation.

Norman W. Manske, 70 — The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office arrested Manske on March 22 in connection to a hit-and-run collision in Ocean Park on Feb. 24 that sent a bicyclist to the hospital. He pleaded guilty to felony hit and run in a plea agreement.

According to court records, Manske faced a standard range with an offender score of 0 of 3-9 months in jail. The prosecutor’s office recommended he be sentenced to three months. Richter accepted the plea agreement and sentence recommendation.

Jose E. Meza, 36 — He is one of two defendants who were charged in connection to the untimely death of Ryan M. Knight on Jan. 29, who overdosed on fentanyl. Meza pleaded guilty in a plea agreement on April 5 to second-degree manslaughter. He initially faced controlled substance homicide along with Patricia L. Clifford.

According to court records, Meza has an offender score of 7 and faced a standard range of 77-102 months in prison. The prosecutor’s office recommended a sentence of 77 months — about six and a half years — with 18 months of community custody once he is released.

Richter accepted the sentence recommendation.

John F. N. Connery, 34 — He pleaded guilty to felony stalking after refusing to leave a Raymond woman alone. He had an offender score 0 and faced a standard range of 6-12 months in jail. The prosecutor’s office recommended a sentence of nine months in jail and 12 months of community custody upon release.

Richter accepted the plea agreement and sentence recommendation.

Shane C. Dunn, 37 — He quickly pleaded guilty to second-degree theft less than a week after being arrested. He is scheduled to be formally sentenced on May 3. Dunn has an offender score of 3 and faces a standard sentencing range of 3-6 months in jail. The prosecutor’s office is recommending a sentence of three months in jail.

Frank J. Weir — His attorney, Nathan Needham, worked out a last-minute plea agreement to avoid the case going to trial. Weir pleaded guilty in the plea agreement to failing to register as a sex offender. He had an offender score 8 and faced a standard range of 33-43 months in prison.

According to court records, the prosecutor’s office recommended an exceptional sentence of 185 days in jail, with no credit for good time but credit for time served. Richter accepted the plea agreement and sentence recommendation, which also included 12 months of community custody.

Jesus D. W. Sass, 26 — He pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to failing to register as a sex offender. He had an offender score 1 and faced a standard range of 0-12 months in jail. The prosecutor’s office recommended a sentence of 27 days. Richter accepted the plea agreement and sentence recommendation.