Accused child rapist heads to court

A Wampum man accused of repeatedly raping a child has been ordered held for court.

Frank W. Snyder, 28, of 2706 Old Route 18, remains in the Lawrence County jail on $100,000 bond.

Snyder is charged with four counts of rape, three counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, two counts of statutory sexual assault, three counts of indecent exposure, nine counts of corruption of minors, seven counts of indecent assault, seven counts of sexual assault and four counts of unlawful contact with a minor.

At a preliminary hearing yesterday before District Judge David Rishel, the victim, now 17, said Snyder has shown her unwanted attention since she was 12 years old.

She said he began by kissing her. When she was 13, she said, Snyder raped her twice and twice more when she was 14. She said on those occasions, he held her down with one hand and put his other hand over her mouth so she would not make noise. She testified he also had threatened her, saying if she told anyone, he would go after her.

Earlier this year, she said, Snyder demanded that she perform oral sex. She said this happened on three occasions.

Snyder’s attorney, Stanley Booker, asked that the bond be reduced but could not get support for this from assistant district attorney Luanne Parkonen.

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