Leetonia man gets plea deal in death of 7-week-old son

By D.a. Wilkinson

LISBON — A man pleaded guilty Tuesday to one charge of endangering children in the death of his son, who was 7 weeks old.

Justin Snow, 28, of Leetonia, entered the plea on the morning his jury trial was to begin.

Snow could face up to five years in prison.

Columbiana County Prosecutor Robert Herron and Assistant Prosecutor Tim McNicol, who handles sex-abuse cases, said they had offered the defense a seven-year sentence for Snow.

Defense attorneys James Hartford and Douglas King offered a five-year sentence Tuesday morning, and the prosecution agreed.

Herron explained the reduction in sentence by saying that his office is willing to discuss defense offers.

Herron added, “There are inherent problems when you take a case to trial.”

Snow was originally indicted on a charge of involuntary manslaughter, a first-degree felony, and child endangerment, a third-degree felony.

Snow was on probation for a sex crime when he was charged in the shaking death of his son, Issac Daniel, on July 14, 2007.

The infant was taken to Salem Community Hospital and later to Akron Children’s Hospital.

McNicol said the investigation had shown blows to the head and shaking that were consistent with shaken-baby syndrome.

In 2006, Snow was placed on probation for five years on a charge of attempted unlawful sexual contact with a minor.

In that case, he made an Alford plea in which a defendant does not admit the act and asserts innocence but admits that sufficient evidence exists with which the prosecution could likely persuade a judge or jury to find the defendant guilty.

Judge C. Ashley Pike of Columbiana County Common Pleas Court told the attorneys he would consider a prison sentence or sending Snow to the less-restrictive Eastern Ohio Correction Center in Wintersville, Ohio.

Sentencing was set for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 4.

wilkinson@vindy.com