An Indiana man is looking to withdraw his guilty pleas connected with a case in 2019 where he allegedly brought a gun to a bus stop on East Pike Road.
40-year-old Michael Rifendifer of Indiana will withdraw guilty pleas connected with an incident on September 6th of 2019. On that day, state police were notified of an incident that happened at 7:51 AM at a bus stop at East Pike Road and Gorman Avenue. A senior high student reported Rifendifer approached the stop with what looked like a pistol in his hand. He allegedly asked the student if he thought the gun was real. The student told him to stay away and that the bus was approaching. Rifendifer then left the area, allegedly ditching the gun nearby. When the student got to school, he reported the incident to the school and his parents, and that prompted a lock down of East Pike school as police would be in the general area. Troopers found the firearm, a BB gun replica of a .45 Smith and Wesson on Rifendifer’s front porch. He was later taken into custody as he walked along Philadelphia Street.
Rifendifer faced charges of burglary-overnight accommodations, trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, terroristic threats, and criminal mischief. On December 9th of 2019, he pleaded guilty to trespass, disorderly conduct and terroristic threats, but in a session of veteran’s court in August of 2020, he pleaded guilty to all charges against him.
The hearing will be held this morning in front of Judge Michael Clark.
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