Belpre man sentenced on sex charges
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MARIETTA -- A Belpre man was sentenced to eight years in prison Friday morning after pleading guilty to three counts of gross sexual imposition.
Stephen Matt Snider, 39, of 801 Talbot St., Belpre, was indicted on six counts of gross sexual imposition, all third-degree felonies. The indictments stem from incidents involving two juvenile girls from January 2018 to December 2018, from January 2019 to July 2019 and on July 13-14.
The victims were ages 10 and 12, said Washington County Assistant Prosecutor Joe Derkin.
Derkin said gross sexual imposition is seen mostly with children. If someone has used an intoxicant or if they don't have the physical or mental capacity to consent, it's also sexual imposition.
He said letters were sent to the court from Snider's friends and family.
"What he did was just horrendous," Derkin said. "They talked about him having a great childhood and we want the same for our victims."
The state asked for an eight year prison sentence so that the youngest victim would be an adult when he is released.
A video was shown to the court of the first victim speaking to a victim's advocate.
"I don't want to see him anymore," she said, crying.
Derkin said just the thought of seeing him again put her into tears.
He said the pre-sentence investigation noted that Snider would allegedly watch pornography with the victims, touching himself while he touched them. The abuse occurred over the course of two years.
"That's not a mistake, it's a habit," Derkin said.
Phone calls from the jail reportedly show that Snider said "yeah, what I did was bad, but I didn't murder anyone."
Snider also reportedly said if it happened to his daughter, he would be devastated.
Snider's attorney George Cosenza said he empathized with the victims.
"They should never have been subjected to anything like that," he added.
He said his client acknowledged what he did and after initial denials, he confessed the crimes to the police.
When it was his turn to speak, Snider told the court that he realized what he did was wrong, but that he wasn't a habitual criminal. He said he's been a productive member of society most of his life.
Washington County Common Pleas Judge Mark Kerenyi said the girls' lives were destroyed, and they suffered severe psychological harm.
"I don't believe you show remorse," he added. "This was not a one-time mistake. This is who you are."
Kerenyi then sentenced Snider to 60 months for the first count, and 60 months for the fifth count, to run concurrently. He was also sentenced to 36 months for the sixth count, which is to run consecutively, for a total of eight years in prison.
He is also now listed as a Tier II sex offender and once he leaves prison, must verify information with the Washington County Sheriff's Office every 180 days for the next 25 years.
"I've given the children time to grow up," Kerenyi said. "It's my hope you come to terms with what you've done. You need to come to terms with what you are."
Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.