A Westmoreland County judge on Wednesday set $5,000 bail for a man accused of breaking into a Murrysville home and groping a female resident.
Gregory P. Schneider, 47, had been held at the Westmoreland County Prison without bail since his arrest Sept. 2 on two felony counts of burglary and a misdemeanor offense of indecent assault.
His attorney this week asked Judge Timothy Krieger to set bail, claiming Schneider was experiencing the effects of a change in medication 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. He was living in Murrysville at the time.
In Wednesday’s order, Krieger said if Schneider posts 10% bail, he has to be placed on pretrial services and report to probation weekly. Other terms of his release include surrendering his drivers license, continuing with psychiatric treatment and taking prescribed medication and living at an address in Moon Township.
Schneider remained at the jail Thursday afternoon, according to records.
Dr. Louis Martone testified during a bail hearing Tuesday that Schneider was diagnosed with schizophrenia and has been treated since 2017. Schneider’s medication was altered, a change Martone said could have triggered a manic episode. The doctor said he didn’t have any concerns as long as Schneider stays on his medication.
Krieger’s decision to set $5,000 bail came over objections from prosecutors, who said the woman continues to fear for her safety.
