Man acquitted of raping child
A Waynesburg man was acquitted by a Greene County jury of a dozen charges associated with allegations that he sexually abused a girl over several years.
Prosecutors withdrew the remaining dozen charges against Harold Dewayne Snyder, 43, of Water Dam Road, meaning all of the charges in the case were resolved last week.
In September 2009, state police charged Snyder with charges that ranged from the rape of a child and aggravated indecent assault to indecent assault and corruption of minors.
Public Defender Harry Cancelmi said that this was the second time Snyder was on trial in the case. In May 2011, a jury could not reach a verdict and deadlocked.
Cancelmi said that Snyder, who was unable to post bail in the case, spent 27 months incarcerated on the charges and noted that Snyder has consistently denied the allegations.
Cancelmi indicated that three state police scientists and one independent expert testified that there was no evidence of transfer of hair, seminal fluid, DNA or other substance that linked him to the alleged victim.
“The only thing that might be worse than the crime of sexual assault on a child is the false accusation of sexual assault on a child,” Cancelmi said.