Rape charges against Leesport man held for Schuylkill County Court

TREMONT — A Leesport man charged with raping a 15-year-old girl from Pottsville had all charges held for court Thursday after a brief preliminary hearing.

Christopher M. Snyder, 34, appeared before Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi on felony counts of rape, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse; and misdemeanor counts of corruption of minors, indecent assault and furnishing liquor to minors.

Snyder will have to answer to the charges in Schuylkill County Court, where he can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

State police Trooper Michael F. Vinitski of the Schuylkill Haven station charged the defendant in November in connection with the incident, which occurred May 8 or 9, 2023.

According to police, the victim, who was 15, alleged that Snyder had raped her at a house party in Wayne Twp.

Police said the defendant drove the girl and her sister to the party and stopped at a Pottsville convenience store to purchase alcohol.

The girl reported consuming alcohol and smoking marijuana and said that, as party guests fell asleep, the defendant began raping her, despite her telling him to stop, police said.

Police said Snyder later discovered the girl’s age and drove to her home with a contraceptive so that she wouldn’t become pregnant. Police said the girl’s mother discovered what occurred and reported the incident to Pottsville police on May 10.

On Sept. 6, a completed lab report from a sexual assault evidence collection kit submitted by the girl identified DNA as belonging to Snyder.

Snyder, who is represented by attorney Jay M. Nigrini, Reading, did not testify at the proceeding Thursday.

The alleged victim was also present but did not testify.

Snyder was jailed in Schuylkill County Prison following his arrest but was released Dec. 9 after posting $75,000 bail.

Rossi did not modify the defendant’s bail conditions.