Pacific County Superior Court

Published 8:26 pm Monday, July 15, 2024

SOUTH BEND — The following cases highlighted the July 12 Pacific County Superior Court docket:

Patricia R. Clifford, 42 — After weeks of delaying her potential plea and sentencing, she has formally entered a guilty plea in connection to the untimely death of Ryan M. Knight on Jan. 29, 2024. She was accused of selling the fentanyl that led to Knight’s overdose.

According to court records, Clifford has pleaded guilty to an amended charge of delivery of a controlled substance. She has an offender score of 7 and faces a standard sentencing range of 60-120 months in prison — the plea agreement recommends 60 months and one day and 12 months of community custody upon release.

Clifford is the remaining defendant in the case of Knight’s death. Jose E. Meza, 38, pleaded guilty on April 19 to second-degree manslaughter for his role and was sentenced to 77 months in prison and 18 months of community custody upon release.

Clifford is scheduled to be formally sentenced on Aug. 9. The sentence recommendation does not have to be accepted by Judge Donald J. Richter, who has the authority to sentence her anywhere within the standard range.

Keith R. Schneider, 41 — Details of his second case have come to light. He already faces charges for allegedly breaking into a home at 270th Place on May 13. While deputies from the Pacific County Sheriff’s Office converged on his residence, they discovered an allegedly troubling situation.

According to court records, deputies heard a woman inside his residence while taking him into custody. She was reportedly on the floor and permitted deputies to enter. A medic crew provided medical aid and took her to Ocean Beach Hospital.

It is alleged the woman sustained multiple traumatic forcible sexual assaults by Schneider.

Schneider now faces second-degree malicious mischief and intimidating a public servant for his first case and second-degree rape and first-degree incest for his second case.

Lacey R. Lynch, 41 — She is accused of stealing over $23,000 from a patient while she was their caregiver. The South Bend Police Department undertook a months-long investigation that allegedly discovered she had used cards belonging to the patient for unauthorized spending between March and August 2023.

She currently faces a charge of first-degree theft, and her pretrial was reset for July 19. She currently does not have trial dates set.

Duane P. Stroop, 52 — He pleaded guilty in a plea agreement to one count of taking a vehicle without permission. The agreement recommended he be sentenced to time already served. Stroop faced a standard range with an offender score of 2 of 2-5 months in jail. The plea recommendation was accepted, and he was released.