SUNBURY - A Sunbury restaurant owner accused of threatening to kill his wife seeks release from county jail on $1 bail.
Attorney Michael J. Rudinski filed a motion Wednesday arguing that prosecutors have delayed the right of his client, Robert A. Snyder Jr., to a speedy trial. The district attorney has 180 days to bring a defendant to trial, unless delays are granted by a judge.
The attempted homicide case against Snyder, 63, of 330 East Drive, was filed Feb. 5, and 181 calendar days passed before the motion was filed. Immediate release from the county section of SCI-Coal Township is sought. Snyder has been held on $300,000 bail since Feb. 13.
Rudinski alleges prosecutors stalled the case by not providing discovery, preventing defense motions regarding alleged evidence.
State police say Snyder was drunk when he assaulted his wife, Kimberly Snyder, and pointed a revolver inches from her face on Feb. 4, threatening to kill her and then himself. In a struggle for the gun, a round was fired. The wife wrestled away the gun and fled their home, according to police. Snyder has maintained his innocence.
Snyder was arrested on charges of attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and simple assault.
President Judge William H. Wiest ruled July 10 ordering the District Attorney's Office to release all relevant text messages from Feb. 4, any ballistic evidence, a thumb drive and a copy of a hard drive owned by Snyder. The defense has a right to the texts to attempt to provide context to related statements, the judge ruled.
Potential motions concerning the evidence were to be filed by Friday. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Aug. 14.