HERKIMER — A 29-year-old Ilion man nicknamed “Harry Potter” was sentenced up to life in prison Friday morning for raping a 13-year-old girl after already having a history of sexually abusing another teenager 10 years ago.
Jeremy Snyder received the severe punishment of 20-years-to-life – which is consistent with what some defendants might receive for murder – after he was found to be a “persistent violent felony offender” Friday by Herkimer County Court Judge Patrick Kirk.
A jury found Snyder guilty after trial in December of having sex with an underage girl in November 2008, when he was 27. Snyder was convicted of felony first-degree and second-degree rape and misdemeanor endangering the welfare of a child.
Police have said Snyder used the nickname “Harry Potter” because he bears a resemblance to the boyish and bespectacled character in the popular novels and films.
Snyder was due to be sentenced earlier this week, but the prosecutor, Herkimer County First Assistant District Attorney Scott Klosner, asked for an adjournment at the time so that a hearing could take place to examine Snyder’s history of sex offenses.
"The victim is satisfied with the sentence," Klosner said following Friday's court proceeding.
After the proceeding, Snyder’s attorney, Norman Mastromoro, said he believed that finding Snyder to be a “persistent violent felony offender” was not warranted considering the underlying facts of Snyder’s past convictions.
Snyder previously pleaded guilty to attempted burglary after one of his friends entered the home of Snyder’s grandmother through window because the door was locked and they wanted soda, Snyder explained in court Friday, Mastromoro said.
Snyder also previously pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl in 2001. In that instance, Snyder explained that he was at a party with some friends when the girl made a comment that prompted Snyder to bear his buttocks.
Snyder then fell onto the girl while he was exposed, Mastromoro said. That conviction resulted in Snyder being registered as a Level 2 sex offender.
“Is this so egregious that it should be considered by the judge to sentence him as a persistent violent felony offender?” Mastromoro asked. The attorney did note, however, that prosecutors said there was more to the story and that Snyder’s overall character should be considered.
When Snyder was released from prison in 2007, only about one year would pass before he once again faced similar allegations of having sex with a minor.
During this latest investigation, Snyder told police that he and his two roommates shared an Ilion house where all three men had sex with underage girls “whenever they wanted.”
In a written statement to Ilion police that prosecutors could not present to jurors at trial, Snyder denied having sex with the girl, whom he said he thought of as a “little sister.”
Snyder explained in his statement that he felt more comfortable with younger people than his peers. “Mostly because of my looks … I get along better with the younger crowd,” he had told police.
Mastromoro noted that Judge Kirk did sentence Snyder to the minimum punishment he could have received as a persistent offender.
During the proceeding, Snyder became tearful as he spoke to the judge before being sentenced, Mastromoro said.
“He essentially conceded that, yeah, he made some foolish decisions in life, but that still doesn’t justify the harsh sentence that he is receiving,” Mastromoro said. “He said he’s always gotten along with people and treated people fairly, and he has two children who will not have him around.”
Posts
