Norfolk man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing teenagers | Select

Snyder, who has been in prison for more than 7.5 months, will be eligible for parole after serving 3.5 years of his sentence, and will be subject to mandatory release one year later. He faces a maximum sentence of 23 years.

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

Madison County Assistant Prosecutor Matthew Kiernan said at Snyder’s hearing in April that last July, a victim who was then 14 years old was at the home of a friend where Snyder was staying. Snyder pressured the girl for a period of time to have sex with him, but she refused.

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

In another incident, Snyder offered another 14-year-old girl $15 and a vape pen to perform sexual acts on her.

The investigation into Snyder began after one of the victim’s parents discovered a text message the daughter had sent to a relative revealing that she had had sexual relations with Snyder.

On Sept. 18, while in jail on another charge, Snyder agreed to speak with a Norfolk Police detective. He admitted to having two sexual encounters with a victim and said the girl told him she was 16 years old. He also said he was either drunk or high when the encounters occurred.

When the detective asked him about the sexual contact he had with the other victim in exchange for money and a vape pen, Snyder initially denied the incident had occurred, but later said he could not remember what happened because he was under the influence.

He admitted to giving the girl cash, but told the detective that she gave the money so she could go to the movies.

In exchange for Snyder’s guilty plea, prosecutors agreed not to make a specific sentencing recommendation, but Kiernan recommended consecutive prison terms for both charges if a prison or jail term were imposed.

When Kube asked why he did it, Snyder said he was hanging out with the wrong crowd and consuming a lot of alcohol and marijuana. Kube said he could understand that bad influences could increase Snyder’s drug and alcohol use, but the sexual assaults were committed by Snyder alone.

When Snyder was asked the same question by a probation officer before sentencing, he said, “I shouldn’t have done what I did, but these things happen.”

When asked by the judge why he had not tried to develop relationships with women his age, Snyder said alcohol had clouded his judgment.

Megan Hoins, assistant public defender in Madison County, said that had Snyder’s case gone to trial, he would have testified that one of the victims told him she was 16, not 14. And if he had known her real age, Snyder would have cut off contact with the girl.

But rather than risk a trial, Hoins said, Snyder decided to take responsibility and accept the prosecutor’s offer to reduce the charges.

The defense attorney told the court that her client had few positive influences in his childhood and was the victim of physical and verbal abuse during his childhood. In addition, Snyder has limited cognitive abilities.

She said Snyder regrets his actions and the harm he caused to the victims. She asked the judge to impose a prison sentence of no more than 5 years if probation is not deemed appropriate.

Before the verdict, Snyder read a written statement apologizing to the victims and saying there was no excuse for his actions.

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

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

Kube said it is disturbing when society is confronted with sexual assault, especially against children. He told Snyder he took his cognitive abilities into account, but the judge said he could not help but consider what the victims went through for Snyder’s sexual gratification.

“They’ll never forget it,” Kube said. “Basically, you’ve taken away their childhood, or whatever’s left of it.”

Others were convicted for the following reasons:

Possession of methamphetamine

— Sandra J. Harris, 41, Howells, 9 months in Madison County Jail with 7 days credit, 12 months probation after release, costs.

Criminal damage to property ($0-$500), theft by unauthorized taking ($1,500-$4,999), driving a motor vehicle to evade arrest, third-degree assault

— Elizabeth K. Arnold, 17, Norfolk, 2 years in the Nebraska Department of Corrections with 136 days credit served, 24 months probation after release, costs.

Possession of methamphetamine, resisting arrest, attempted failure to appear

— Brandon L. James, 33, 1513 Ponca Hills Drive, Apt. A, 2 years in the Nebraska Department of Corrections, 48 ​​days credited for time served, costs.

Driving during the withdrawal period

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

The defendants also appeared for arraignment in the following cases:

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

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

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

Fraudulent identity theft, no valid driver’s license, driving while license revoked, failure to appear

— Christopher O. Milton, 27, Madison County Jail, pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Possession of Tramadol with the intent to distribute

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