Teacher And Youth Advocate In Court

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Preliminary hearings for Snitily, Reeder set for November 6th

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Two Omaha community leaders recently arrested on separate charges appeared in court Friday.

Teacher and coach Jodi Reeder faces a fourth D.U.I. charge while Eugene Snitily, who serves on the board of a group that helps children, faces charges of sexually assaulting a child.

Both were in and out very quickly as their first appearances took just a few minutes each. The judge scheduled their preliminary hearings for November 6th.

Whether they're found guilty or innocent, both will have a tough time regaining their former status.

As a board member of Youth Emergency Services, Snitily plays a part in getting help for homeless and abused kids. Now he's accused of touching a four-year-old girl on more than one occasion between March and August.

Snitily is free on a $50,000 bond and he's been ordered not to have contact with his alleged victim.

Reeder, a Central High School physical education teacher and softball coach is accused of a fourth-offense drunk driving, arrested allegedly driving the wrong way down a one-way street in front of police headquarters. She is free on a $15,000 bond.

Each are felony offenses.

"When people commit crimes they should be punished,” says Dr. Roger Bergman, director of Justice and Peace Studies at Creighton.

He's studied the issue of leaders running afoul of the law and the consequences they face. "I think sometimes having to face up to your own flaws or failings makes you a larger person."

Whether Snitily and Reeder are found guilty or not, Dr. Bergman says it's important to allow the criminal justice system its process because either way, they will serve as an example.

"When leaders who have a particular visibility to young people commit crimes we have a real responsibility to demonstrate to young people how we deal with that sort of issue."

Because even tarnished leaders can teach.

In addition to whatever personal penalties Snitily and Reeder will have to pay if convicted, Snitily faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Reeder would serve one to 20 years and could pay up to a $25,000 fine.

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Posted by: Sally on Mar 23, 2009 at 02:18 PM
What Eugene Snitily did should be punishable by time in prison, not probation. He has ruined a very young little girls' life and for this he gets off with having to register as a sex offender? That judge needs to be voted out asap. Clearly this judge can no longer distinguish a serious felony crime from a misdemeanor. Take a GOOD LOOK at Eugene Snitily, he may be living near you, or shopping along side of you, or walking through a park with your children. This man has no business having his freedom after the unspeakable things he did to a 4 year old child.

Posted by: Julie on Mar 19, 2009 at 06:01 PM
After following the story of Snitily, it seems what is being taught in this case is you do a horrendous crime to a young child and walk away with 2 years probation and restitution? Is that justice? I don't know how the courts work but there should be a re-sentencing. Is it because of his age? A child loses her innocence and he walks. Is there a coincidence that he works with children and lives near an elementary school? When did justice lose sight of a moral code? Could this judge look at his own child, as a 4 year old and make this same decision?

Posted by: Amber on Jun 16, 2008 at 06:00 PM
If you guys are really upset...Lets make some changes...It starts with us...A couple of voices...What do you say?

Posted by: MIchele on Sep 17, 2007 at 01:27 PM
That is totally messed up that a DUI charge gets double of a Sexual Assualt charge. Understanding that this is Reeder's 4th offense, I still beleive that a sexual assualter should be barred for at least 40 years. At the least. That child will be scarred for life and that teacher might have restrictions, but what she did was sick and she deserves more. Especially knowing how her actions were going to affect people by being someone who helps children. Maybe she has different standards of help? Just lets keep our priorities in focus and identify the wrong in our judicial system!

Posted by: WHAT??? on Sep 14, 2007 at 10:23 PM
If someone is facing that much heat for (yes) her fourth but then someone who SEXUALLY ASSULTS a 4 year old doesn't even face half that. WHAT????? Something is majorly wrong there! Changes need to be made NOW!

Posted by: Joe on Sep 14, 2007 at 04:56 PM
Give them both the MAXIMUM Penalty allowed by law. They both deserve it.

Posted by: Rob on Sep 14, 2007 at 04:00 PM
I want to start by saying in no way do I condone drunk driving, but if the story is accurate the fact that Ms. Reeder faces 1 to 20 years in prison and Mr Snitily only faces up to 5 years for sexual assault on a child--a four year old. That shows to me a major problem with the justice system. Not necessarily that a 4th conviction of drunk driving should receive less but if convicted, a pedophile preying on a preschooler especially with his position as an advocate, could only get up to 5 years, far less than the amount of time this poor child will be affected.

Posted by: dave on Sep 14, 2007 at 03:55 PM
hold on,how about facing the consequences of your actions,makes you a better person ALL the time. Sorry doctor but "sometime"doesn't cut it. And how about those penalties. The penaly for felony drunk driving being twice as harsh as sexual assault on a child. Our world has truly gone wrong. It's a sad day people.