A Westmoreland County judge will decide by Friday whether to grant bail to a Murrysville man accused of breaking into a neighbor’s home to make sexual overtures.
During a court hearing Monday, defense attorney Pat Noonan said Gregory P. Schneider, 47, was experiencing the effects of a medication change at the time of the alleged incident but said his condition has stabilized while in jail.
Police say that on Sept. 1, Schneider walked through an unlocked door at a Murrysville home, tapped a female neighbor’s shoulder while she was in her bathroom, handed her a condom and asked to have sex. The woman told investigators Schneider groped her before leaving.
According to court records, Schneider later admitted to the incident and told investigators that days earlier, he entered the then-empty home, went through the woman’s underwear drawers and performed a sex act on her bed.
Schneider is charged with two felony counts of burglary and a misdemeanor offense of indecent assault. He is being held without bond.
Dr. Louis Martone testified that Schneider was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been treated since 2017 to control his symptoms. Last April, doctors altered Schneider’s medication, a change Martone said could have triggered a manic episode. Since being jailed, Schneider’s medication change was reversed and his condition has “leveled,” Martone testified.
“If he’s on his medication, I don’t have concerns about his future risk,” Martone told the judge.
Noonan said that if released, Schneider would live with his family, which recently moved from Murrysville to Moon.
Prosecutors opposed the release. Assistant District Attorney Krista Koontz said the victim continues to fear for her safety.
“She has severe anxiety and fear, will not turn the lights off in her home and doesn’t sleep at night,” Koontz said. “I’m also very concerned about the community at large.”
Common Pleas Court Judge Tim Krieger said he will review Martone’s report before ruling on the bail request.