Pacific County Superior Court

Published 7:54 am Monday, July 1, 2024

SOUTH BEND — The following cases were among those handled during Pacific County Superior Court’s criminal docket in June:

Charles J. Watts, 43 — He was arrested by the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office on May 17, 2024, for the alleged murder of Jeffrey Beach on July 3, 2015. His case was scheduled to go to trial on July 15.

Instead, his case was delayed and all future hearings were stricken. He is scheduled to next appear on July 12, 2024, for a motion hearing to waive speedy trial. No trial dates are currently set.

Marshal N. Disney, 34 — It has been 15 months since he was accepted into the Pacific County Drug Court Program with a chance to earn his way out of a felony charge. He graduated on June 27 after completing all the requirements and stipulations of the program — including 74 hours of community service.

According to court records, Disney delivered a controlled substance to a confidential informant in early 2022. The drug court agreement involved him pleading guilty to one count of delivery of a controlled substance with a standard range of 20-40 months in prison with an offender score of 4.

Historically, the court has held program participants to the high end of the standard range if they are unsuccessful in the program because of the chance they are given. The plea agreement and charge are dismissed if a participant graduates..

Trevor H. Boss, 32 — He was scheduled to go to trial on July 16-17 for charges related to an incident in Raymond on March 24, 2024. He tore through the community riding a Honda pit bike and was allegedly heavily intoxicated. Officers arrested him after he fled back toward his home and went up a hillside through brush.

Boss’s trial was not reset, and the court scheduled a trial-setting hearing for Sept. 13. He currently faces one count of felony eluding, a Class C felony that carries a maximum sentence of 5 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Once a toxicology report is completed, he could also face a felony DUI charge.

Patricia L. Clifford, 41 — The court has had to set over her change of plea and sentencing for the past three weeks and rescheduled her trial dates in case a deal falls through. She faces one count of controlled substance homicide for the overdose death of Ryan Knight on Jan. 29, 2024.

Clifford reportedly provided fentanyl to another man, Jose Meza, who then allegedly provided it to Knight, resulting in his overdose death. Meza pleaded guilty to second-degree manslaughter and was sentenced to 77 months in prison.

One other controlled substance homicide case has gone to trial this year and resulted in a mistrial due to a hung jury. Samantha R. Vineyard-Howard (Hess)’s trial ran June 10-12 and ended with a mistrial after jurors couldn’t reach a verdict, including lesser charges. Her trial was reset for Aug. 19, 2024.

Clifford may be weighing her options following the outcome of Hess’s trial. Juries have shown mixed feelings about whether drug dealers or users should be held responsible for an overdose death.

Gregory A. Forshee, 33 — He pleaded guilty to second-degree assault and two counts of second-degree voyeurism for the assault of his girlfriend on Jan. 3, 2024, in Raymond. He was sentenced to 12 months behind bars.

Raul Mora, 24 — He was convicted of third-degree rape and was sentenced to a Sex Offender Sentencing Alternative. He failed to appear for a review hearing, and the court issued a bench warrant.