Rape suspect fails to turn himself in
His attorney, wife, other family members and state police were waiting, but Larry Dale Knopsnider of Scottdale did not surrender to authorities Wednesday, as he was expected to do. So, Knopsnider, 45, of Market Street remains wanted on a warrant charging him with kidnapping, assaulting and raping a woman early Saturday in Bullskin Township.
The specific charges are rape, kidnapping, aggravated indecent assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and simple assault.
Trooper John Marshall said Knopsnider also is wanted for violating parole.
In the rape case, Knopsnider allegedly punched the victim in the face and head in a vehicle and then drove her to a secluded township road off Breakneck Road, where he raped and sexually assaulted her, according to an affidavit of probable cause Marshall filed at District Justice Robert Breakiron’s office.
Knopsnider’s wife, Sheryl, two other female family members and his attorney, Susan Harper, were waiting for him to surrender Wednesday at the state police station in Uniontown, but he did not show up. He was supposed to turn himself in, accompanied by his attorney, around 1 p.m.
Marshall said Knopsnider also was supposed to call his wife, but did not.
“His wife is worried about his safety,” Marshall said.
Harper declined to comment before she and Knopsnider’s family members left the station.
Knopsnider’s criminal record dates back to 1980, when he was charged for holding a man against his will and stealing $18 from him. He pleaded guilty to theft, criminal conspiracy and terroristic threats and was sentenced to one-and-a-half to three years in prison. That sentence was served concurrently with a one- to two-year term he served for stealing a woman’s purse.
He was sentenced to two years of probation in 1984 on a simple assault conviction.
According to county court records, Knopsnider was charged with attempted homicide in 1986 and was sentenced to five to 10 years in prison for shooting a man in the chest outside of a bar.
He also served a sentence for escaping from the State Correctional Institution at Rockview, Centre County, in 1992.