Norfolk man sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting teenagers | Select

Snyder, who has been in prison for more than 7 1/2 months, will be eligible for parole after serving 3 1/2 years of his sentence, with his mandatory release coming a year later. He faces a maximum sentence of 23 years.

Upon his release from prison, Snyder will have to register as a sex offender for 25 years.

Matthew Kiernan, an assistant Madison County prosecutor, said during Snyder's plea hearing in April that last July, a victim, then 14, was at a friend's house where Snyder was staying. Snyder had been pressuring the girl to have sex with him for some time, to which he was rebuffed.

At one point, the girl was lying on a couch in the living room of the Norfolk residence when Snyder, then 19, got on top of her, held her down and sexually assaulted her. The victim told Snyder to stop several times during the assault, according to Kiernan.

In another incident, Snyder offered another 14-year-old girl $15 and a vape pen to perform a sex act on him.

An investigation into Snyder began after one of the victim's parents discovered a text message sent by their daughter to a relative stating that she had had a sexual relationship with Snyder.

On September 18, while jailed on a separate charge, Snyder agreed to speak with a Norfolk police detective. He admitted to having sex with one victim twice and said the girl told him she was 16. He also said he was either drunk or high at the time of the encounters.

When asked by the detective about the sexual relationship he had with the other victim in exchange for money and a vape pen, Snyder initially denied that the incident took place, but later said that He didn't remember what happened because he was under surveillance. influence.

He admitted giving the girl money, but told the detective the money was provided so she could go to the movies.

In exchange for Snyder's guilty plea, the county attorney's office agreed not to make a specific sentencing recommendation, although Kiernan recommended consecutive incarceration sentences for both counts if a prison or a prison sentence was imposed.

When Kube asked him why he did what he did, Snyder responded that he hung around with the wrong crowd and did a lot of alcohol and marijuana. Kube said he could see where bad influences could amplify Snyder's drug and alcohol use, but the sexual assaults were committed by Snyder alone.

During his pre-sentencing interview with a probation officer, Snyder, when asked the same question, said, “I shouldn't have done what I did, but things happen.” »

When the judge asked why he didn't try to have relationships with women his own age, Snyder said alcohol had clouded his judgment.

Megan Hoins, a Madison County deputy public defender, said that if Snyder's case had gone to trial, he would have testified that one of the victims told him she was 16, not 14, and that Snyder would have stopped all communication with the girl if he had known. his true age.

But instead of taking the risk of going to trial, Hoins said, Snyder decided to take responsibility and accept prosecutors' plea offer involving reduced charges.

The defense attorney told the court his client had few positive influences during his childhood and was subjected to physical and verbal abuse growing up, adding that Snyder had limited cognitive abilities.

She said Snyder was remorseful for his actions and for any harm he caused the victims. She asked the judge not to exceed a 5-year prison sentence if probation was deemed inappropriate.

Snyder read a written statement before being sentenced in which he apologized to the victims and said there was no excuse for his actions.

He told the judge that if he had a role model in his life, he would have completed high school. Not graduating, he said, made him feel like less of a man.

“I would love the opportunity to be that man, which will be difficult from a prison cell,” Snyder said. “But I know what I did, that’s why I’m willing to accept my punishment.”

Kube said it is worrying that society is having to deal with sexual assaults, especially those against children. He told Snyder he took into account his level of cognitive ability, but the judge said he couldn't help but take into consideration what the victims had endured for Snyder's sexual gratification.

“They will never forget it,” Kube said. “You basically took away their childhood, or whatever was left of it.”

Others were convicted on the following grounds:

Possession of methamphetamine

— Sandra J. Harris, 41, Howells, 9 months in Madison County Jail with credit for 7 days served, 12 months post-release supervision, fees.

Criminal mischief ($0 to $500), theft by unlawful taking ($1,500 to $4,999), operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, third-degree assault

— Elizabeth K. Arnold, 17, Norfolk, 2 years in Nebraska Department of Corrections with credit for 136 days served, 24 months post-release supervision, fees.

Possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, attempted failure to appear

— Brandon L. James, 33, 1513 Ponca Hills Drive, Apt. A, 2 years in Nebraska Department of Corrections with credit for 48 days served, fees.

Driving during revocation

— Evaristo Velez Vazquez, 45, Madison, $100, license revoked for 15 years, costs.

The accused also appeared for arraignment on the following grounds:

First degree sexual assault of a child, third degree sexual assault of a child

— Armando Mendoza-Carranza, 47, Reception and Treatment Center, continued arraignment.

— Josiah S. Kumm, 18, of Madison County Jail, pleaded guilty and will enter the Northeast Nebraska Adult Drug Court program.

Criminal impersonation, no valid driver's license, driving under suspension, failure to appear

— Christopher O. Milton, 27, of the Madison County Jail, has pleaded not guilty to each charge.

Possession of tramadol with intent to give birth

— Edgar Leonel Mach Toxcon, 22, Fremont, pleaded not guilty.