Woman jumps from second-story window to escape, couple sentenced for trapping her

Bryant Lacey, Kassandra Richter

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Court documents from St. Joseph County reveal a couple has been sentenced for trapping a woman in a home in March.

Bryant Lacey was found guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm by Serious Violent Felon, Battery by Means of a Deadly Weapon, and Criminal Confinement resulting in Serious Bodily Injury on Oct. 9.

Lacey was sentenced to a total of 25 years in prison with 213 days of jail credit.

Lacey was previously convicted of voluntary manslaughter in April 2017 in a separate case.

Kassandra Richter was charged with Criminal Confinement resulting in serious bodily injury (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense), Criminal Confinement while armed with a deadly weapon (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense), and Pointing a Firearm at Another.

Richter entered a plea agreement for Criminal Confinement resulting in serious bodily injury (Aiding, Inducing, or Causing an Offense), while the other charges were dropped.

Richter was sentenced to two years in prison followed by two and a half years with St. Joseph County Community Corrections.

The couple were also ordered to pay restitution worth $1,959 in total between the two of them.

According to the Mishawaka Police Department, on March 8, officers responded to the intersection of Lawrence Street and Main Street for an assist.

Police say a woman had stopped an ambulance and informed the paramedics she'd been assaulted in a nearby house.

Responding officers noted the woman had a large contusion to her right cheek containing dried blood and was complaining of pain to her legs.

The woman told police she was a prostitute and that her pimp, Lacey, had called her back to his place in the 800 block of Main Street.

Once there, the woman said Lacey accused her of stealing one of his guns.

She told police Lacey hit her several times with a revolver.

The woman said she was able to escape the home by jumping out of the second-story bathroom window. She said she tried to hold onto the nearby tree but fell to the ground.

A later medical evaluation confirmed the victim sustained a fracture to her L2 vertebrae.

During follow-up interviews, the victim said Richter, a romantic partner of Lacey's, was the one who accused her of taking the gun.

The victim said the Lacey threatened to kill her.

The victim told authorities Lacey and his friend left the home at one point. Richter stayed and wouldn't let her go. Richter allegedly told the victim, "When the men come back, we're going to strip you down naked and we're going to humiliate you."

The victim said Richter pointed a gun at her as well.

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