Pacific County Superior Court

Published 12:51 pm Monday, July 8, 2024

SOUTH BEND — The following cases saw significant progress during the criminal docket of the Pacific County Superior Court on July 5, 2024:

Cress D. Galvan, 32 — He was the driver in a fatal crash on Sandridge Road on March 29, 2023 that took the life of Molly Fay. The Pacific County Sheriff’s Office investigated the crash and discovered drug paraphernalia at the scene and suspected Cress had been under the influence.

According to court records, Galvan pleaded guilty to one count of vehicular homicide. He faced a standard range of 78-102 months in prison with an offender score of 0. The Pacific County Prosecutor’s Office recommended he be sentenced to the low end.

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

Samantha R. Vineyard-Howard (Hess), 31 — Her first trial for controlled substance homicide ended with a hung jury on June 12, 2024, after a jury could not reach a verdict. Her trial was later reset for Aug. 19, 2024, and she was scheduled for a motion for DNA testing — she did not appear.

According to court records, Richter struck all future court dates pending her capture on a $100,000 arrest warrant.