The Summerland Advocate-Messenger - Reliable, Trustworthy Reporting, Capturing The Heartbeat Of Our Community

A Ewing woman was sentenced last week for charges stemming from incidents that occurred at a rural Ewing home, occupied by several children, more than one year ago.

Jessica J. Snyder, 41, of Ewing appeared in the Holt County district courtroom in O’Neill last week. The Honorable Mark Kozisek sentenced Snyder to a two-year term of probation for her conviction of third-degree assault, a Class 1 misdemeanor; criminal mischief (more than $500 damage but less than $1,500), a Class 2 misdemeanor; and criminal mischief (less than $500 damage), a Class 3 misdemeanor.

Terms and conditions of probation include maintaining at least 32 hours of suitable employment each week or, for each two hours less than 32 hours worked, perform one hour of community service work the following week. Snyder is required to provide her probation officer a statement from her employer, verifying hours worked. She is required to pay the court $147 costs and $630 in probation program fees. Kozisek ordered her to continue family therapy and individual counseling, to address lack of boundaries with others, lack of trust with others, coping skills related to both verbal and nonverbal communication and maintaining safety. The judge also ordered she take all prescribed medications, not discontinue any without the consent of the health-care provider and attend and successfully complete an anger management class and any other classes deemed appropriate by the probation officer.

Snyder pleaded no contest to the three counts included in an amended complaint in March, pursuant to a deal with Holt County attorney Brent Kelly.

Snyder was arrested during the early morning hours of May 13, 2022, charged with four felony counts, terroristic threats, attempted arson, criminal mischief, more than $5,000 and intentional child abuse, no injury.

According to a probable-cause affidavit filed by Steven Binkerd, an investigator with the Holt County sheriff’s office, he responded to a report, just before midnight, May 12, that alleged Snyder had attempted to gain entrance to the rural residence, through both the front and back doors, gained entry to a back porch and opened a freezer, after she entered a garage and allegedly poured motor oil into the fuel tank of a pickup truck. She allegedly left the garage carrying a gas can and a hammer and “dumped gasoline all over the front door.” Oily handprints were found on the back door.

The adult resident was not home but his children, ages 6 to 15, were inside the residence at the time.

The incident was investigated by Holt County officers and Nebraska State Patrol officers.