More Limits Sought for Schneider Bond

More Limits Sought for Schneider Bond; Ron Sylvester; The Wichita Eagle; 2008-04-24. Source. Comment on/Discuss this post on PRN’s Pain Forums

See also:
Judge Orders Schneider Released - DeLuca on Release Order, 04/23/08
Prosecutors Try to Silence Pain Activist - Szalavitz; 04/08/08

WICHITA. Stephen Schneider won’t win his freedom without an argument.

Federal prosecutor Tanya Treadway has asked a judge to modify the conditions for the former doctor’s bond, set for a hearing at 2 p.m. today in Wichita.

Schneider, 54, is charged with his wife in a 34-count indictment accusing them of writing illegal prescriptions for painkillers to the patients at their Haysville clinic.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Don Bostwick ruled Monday that Schneider should be released under 15 conditions, including that he not practice medicine or be involved in his clinic.

The judge allowed the prosecution and defense to file objections until Wednesday.

Treadway asked for “minor modifications,” including ordering Schneider to put up a secured bond of $325,000.

Bostwick had ordered that Schneider didn’t have to put down a deposit, but would forfeit half of his property that the government had not seized if he didn’t comply with all of the conditions.

“The Court, the United States Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Marshal would have little ability to enforce or collect an unsecured bond,” Treadway said.

Prosecutors fear Schneider might flee, because he and his wife own property in Mexico, and he faces a potential life prison sentence if convicted.

Bostwick ordered Schneider to surrender his passport. Treadway also wants the judge to order the former doctor placed on the State Department’s “watch list” at the border.

“The government does not believe that a passport is needed to enter Mexico, although one is required to re-enter the Unites States from Mexico,” Treadway wrote.

Bostwick also ordered that Schneider not contact any of his former patients cited by the government as purported victims in the charges against him.

Treadway said that includes all of the estimated 10,000 patients who went to the Schneider Medical Clinic, because any of them could be the victims in health care fraud charges against the Schneiders.

The government wants the “no-contact” condition extended to Schneider’s family, friends, former employees and members of the Pain Relief Network advocacy group, including its leader, Siobhan Reynolds.

Schneider’s lawyer, Lawrence Williamson, said he plans to argue against some of the new conditions at today’s hearing.

Bostwick has postponed ruling on releasing Schneider’s wife, Linda, from jail pending a court-ordered psychological evaluation.

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