ELYRIA — A sexual predator who served 12 years in prison for kidnapping and raping a woman on the campus of the College of Wooster is accused of offering two young girls money to expose themselves.

Kelly D. Snodgrass, 38, of Elyria, faces two felony counts of pandering obscenity involving a juvenile after approaching the two girls last week, according to Elyria police Lt. Andy Eichenlaub.

He was arraigned Wednesday in Elyria Municipal Court, where Judge Lisa Locke Graves set his bond at $1 million. He remained in Lorain County Jail on Wednesday night.

Snodgrass allegedly pulled up to a 9-year-old girl in Eastern Heights in a tan SUV at 3:34 p.m. May 28 and offered her $20 to pull down her pants, Eichenlaub said. The incident occurred near Denison Avenue and Sherman Street. The girl said no and immediately told a parent, who called police, he said.

Later that same afternoon, at about 5:30 p.m., Snodgrass allegedly approached a 9-year-old girl in the toy department at Wal-Mart and made the same offer. She also said no and told a Wal-Mart employee and a relative who was nearby, Eichenlaub said.

Police broke the case after showing photos from the store’s security cameras to parole authorities, who thought they recognized the man as Snodgrass, Eichenlaub said.

Detectives put Snodgrass under surveillance and determined that the vehicle he used for work matched the vehicle the girl in Eastern Heights described, Eichenlaub said.

When questioned, Snodgrass “made some admissions,” said Eichenlaub, who would not elaborate further.

The father of the girl in Eastern Heights said the arrest was good news.

“It’s been a living nightmare for her,” he said.

Elyria Prosecutor Jay Grunda asked for a high bond during Snodgrass’ court appearance Wednesday morning, citing the suspect’s prior convictions for rape, kidnapping and theft.

Grunda said Snodgrass also had a parole violation on March 10 that also involved allegations of sexual impropriety. As a sexual predator, Snodgrass is required to report his whereabouts to sheriff’s deputies every 90 days.

When the judge asked Snodgrass if there was anything he wanted to say on the issue of bond, he replied, “What can I say?”

Snodgrass told the judge he had been working for about six months at Elegant Wood Products in Eaton Township. He lives in Elyria on Queens Court, off Cleveland Street near state Route 57.

Sheila Fishburn, whose husband runs Elegant Wood Products, a custom design company, said the company worked with Snodgrass’ parole officer to give him a job.

“We believe in giving people a second chance,” she said.

Fishburn also said there were no indications that Snodgrass was doing anything illegal.

State prison records show Snodgrass was in prison between March 16, 1994, and June 6, 2006. While at Chillicothe Correctional Institution, he participated in a sexual offender program, according to prison system spokeswoman Jo Ellen Culp.

Eichenlaub credited them with making good decisions,

“They recognized the situation wasn’t right and sought help from adults they trusted,” Eichenlaub said.

Contact Cindy Leise at 329-7245 or cleise@chroniclet.com.

 

---

Print this story
Report an inappropriate comment

---

In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement and discussion guidelines.

Need help? Email Us.

---