ELYRIA — An Elyria sexual predator who asked two young girls to expose themselves was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison.

Kelly Snodgrass, 38, apologized to Common Pleas Judge Christopher Rothgery and said he needs help dealing with his problem.

“I want to say I’m sorry to the girls for asking them inappropriate questions,” Snodgrass said.

Snodgrass

Snodgrass, who served 12 years in prison for kidnapping and raping a woman at the College of Wooster, previously received treatment for sex offenses while in prison, according to his attorney, Doug Merrill.

Snodgrass was not receiving any counseling or mental health services at the time he approached the girls in Elyria, Merrill said after court.

His client “is convinced he has an illness and would love to be made well,” Merrill said.

In the case involving the girls, Snodgrass pleaded guilty to two counts each of attempted pandering obscenity involving a minor, attempted illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material and criminal child enticement.

Before Wednesday, Snodgrass had filed paperwork saying he wanted to withdraw his guilty plea, but he dropped that request prior to the sentencing hearing.

Police say Snodgrass pulled up next to a 9-year-old girl in Eastern Heights on May 28 and offered her $20 to pull down her pants. The girl said no and immediately told a parent.

About two hours later, Snodgrass made the same offer to a 9-year-old girl in the toy department at Wal-Mart.

That girl also said no and ran to a nearby Wal-Mart employee. That girl’s parents didn’t report the incident to police until learning about the first girl.

Police identified Snodgrass from Wal-Mart security cameras after showing the videos to probation officers.

Merrill said his client also regretted hurting a cabinet maker who gave him a job despite his criminal past.

Snodgrass was driving the employer’s van at the time of the incidents.

“He was of the opinion he let everyone down, including himself,” Merrill said.

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

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