UPDATE: October 20, 2010: Schneiders Sentenced
Dr. Stephen Schneider is sentenced to 30 Years in prison. His wife, Linda Schneider who also worked in their office, is sentenced 33 years in prison.
At this time, restitution to the families who had loved ones die at the hands of this couple and their practice hasn’t been decided. This will happen at a later date.
Source
Denise Hnytka; Schneiders sentenced to 30 and 33 year prison terms; KWCH.com
Original Article Below
Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda Schneider, have been in and out of the news in Kansas for the past five years due to the charges placed against them in the overdosing and over prescribing of medications to patients in their care.
Timeline of the Schneider Trial
The following is the rundown from the time the Schneiders were arrested in 2005 to today’s, June 24, 2010, verdict in the Schneider trial.
Schneider Clinic Raid in 2005
After being under close watch and scrutiny by Federal Investigators, the raid in 2005 is how the Schneider overdosing and over prescribing medications to their patients began. The Schneiders were arrested and charged by the Federal Prosecutor.
Schneiders Waive Attorney Conflict Issues in 2008
After Three years of being in a Federal Prison, the Schneiders waive the rights in waiving rights to challenge for ineffective counsel in future hearings and trials. During this time, U.S. District Court Judge set a tentative date in April 2009. Judge Brown turned future proceedings over to U.S. District Court Judge Monti Belot because of health issues.
The 2010 Trial: Coroners, DEA Agent Take Stand at Schneider Trial
In late April 2010, the Schneider trial begins. During the eight weeks of the trial, the attorneys for both sides question DEA agents, coroners, and Schneider employees over the practices and other things found during the time of the over prescribing of medications to the clinic’s patients.
Jurors of the Schneider Trial Go Into Deliberations
Last Monday, June 14, 2010, the trail is handed over to the jury for deliberations of all 34 counts of criminal acts the Schneider are charged with. The rest of this news story is the counts Dr. Stephen Schneider and his wife, Linda Schneider, are found guilty or not guilty of in their medical misconduct.
Reading of the Convictions Against the Schneiders
Before the counts were read to the gallery of onlookers for this trial, Judge Belot read over the 17-page verdict form to make sure the jury filled it out properly.
Schneider Jury Verdict Form
There was a 17-page form the jurors had to fill out during deliberations of the Schneider trial. You can download it at Schneider Verdict Form. This will provide you with the names of the overdose victims and all the counts. You will not see the final form the jury submitted to the judge on the final day of the trial.
Jury Trial Verdicts for Dr. Stephen Schneider
Count 1: Conspiracy of Health Care Fraud Only: Guilty.
Counts 2 – 6: Illegally Dispensing Controlled Substances: Guilty.
When the counts 2-5 were read, the judge’s assistant read the list of patients who died of overdoses due to Dr. Schneider. During the reading of the counts, the deaths were noted whether they were caused by the actions of Dr. Schneider.
Counts 7-17: Health Care Fraud: Guilty.
Dr. Schneider found not guilty on 15 of the 17 money laundering charges. He is found guilty on two of the money laundering charges filed against him in Federal Court in Wichita, Kansas.
Total Counts for Dr. Stephen Schneider:
One count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud.
Five counts of unlawfully dispensing a controlled substance to patients.
Eleven counts of health care fraud.
Two counts of money laundering.
Dr. Stephen Schneider was found guilty on 19 of 34 charges.
Trial Jury Verdicts for Linda Schneider
Counts 2-6: Illegally Dispensing Controlled Substances: Guilty.
On counts 2-4, Linda Schneider, had a hand in at least one overdose of all the victims listed for both Schneiders.
Counts 7-17: Health Care Fraud Charges: Guilty.
Linda Schneider guilty of all but one money laundering charge. Linda Schneider was not guilty of Count 24 of money laundering.
Total Counts for Linda Schneider:
Five counts of illegally dispensing a controlled substance to patients.
Twenty-seven counts of health care fraud.
Linda Schneider was found guilty on 32 of 34 charges.
After The Verdicts Were Read
During this high profile Federal Court case in Wichita, Kansas, Judge Belot ordered the U.S. Marshalls to clear the court room of the gallery. In some cases, this is done so the defendants can be removed from the court room without harm or outbursts from anyone watching the end of the trial. This also allows the judge to give final instructions to the jury about the case and allows them to leave the courtroom.
Sources
Cliff Judy, News Reporter Channel 12, KWCH, Wichita Kansas; 12Judy; Twitter.com
Cliff Judy News Reporter Channel 12, KWCH, Wichita Kansas; Jury Reaches Verdict; KWCH.com
Cliff Judy, EyeWitness News Reporter KWCH, Verdicts in Trial of Dr. Stephen and Linda Schneider; KWCH.com
