Snyder’s attorney Hal Arenstein told the judge Snyder has realized he is sick and is committed to staying on his treatment path.
“Three days into the trial, after hearing the doctors testify, he leaned over to me and said ‘I never knew how sick I was... Why didn’t I see it,’” Arenstein said.
He said Snyder owes the IRS more than $200,000 and he needs to work to pay that debt, restitution to his neighbors and support his family. He asked for no prison time for his client.
Bronson said while he doesn’t believe Snyder will go on the attack again, the crimes he committed were too serious for freedom. He also reminded Snyder he was given an opportunity to avoid prison time — a deal was nearly struck between the defense and prosecutors prior to trial — but he chose to take his chances with the jury.
Snyder, 26, was accused of breaking into a Beacon Hill townhouse in Deerfield Twp. in 2009 and assaulting dentist Bradley Roberts in his bedroom. Snyder had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity.
Snyder faced up to 18 years in prison. For the jury to buy the insanity defense they had to believe Snyder has a serious mental defect or disease and that he did not appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions while committing the crime.
Doctors for both sides agreed Snyder suffers from bipolar disorder, psychosis and paranoia. That satisfied the first prong of the insanity test. Snyder climbed over a six-foot fence, smashed the Roberts’ rear French doors with a landscape rock and charged through the house. He got to the master bedroom and began pummeling Roberts first with his fists and then with an alarm clock.
Snyder led the University of Nevada to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 in 2004. He was the 16th player taken in the 2004 NBA draft and played for four NBA teams before spending the past season in a pro league in China.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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