MIDDLEBURY — Mark A. Snow, 41, of Middlebury on Tuesday was sentenced to five years to life in prison for sexually assaulting a young woman on Jan. 1, 2010. Following sentencing by Judge Nancy Corsones in Addison County Superior Court, Criminal Division, Snow was taken to the Marble Valley Correctional Facility in Rutland.
“We were hoping for more, but the judge, after reviewing all the material, felt that five to life was an appropriate sentence,” said Deputy State’s Attorney Christopher Perkett.
A jury had found Snow guilty of the sexual assault felony, along with a violation of conditions of release misdemeanor, on May 26, 2011. Snow also has a lengthy history of credit fraud and drunken driving convictions, according to court records.
Snow was initially held on $5,000 bail following allegations that he’d sexually assaulted a 20-year-old woman he met at a New Year’s Eve party in Middlebury in 2009. At the time, Snow was free on conditions following a conviction of driving under the influence, second offense. The terms of release stipulated that Snow couldn’t possess or consume alcohol, conditions Snow admitted to violating while being interviewed by authorities investigating the assault case. Snow’s birthday is on New Year’s Eve, and according to Middlebury police Officer Vegar Boe’s affidavit, friends allegedly heard him say that he planned “on getting drunk and getting laid” that evening.
The victim is from Grafton, Mass., and was visiting a friend for a New Year’s party in Middlebury, according to court records. A partygoer’s mother reported the incident much later, and Boe interviewed Snow at his home. During the interview, Snow denied having had sexual intercourse with the victim, though admitted that they’d “fooled around” and that he’d touched her breasts. The affidavit also referred to interviews with Snow’s friends in which Boe said they supported the victim’s story.
Snow was arrested in June 2010.
Perkett prosecuted the case. Snow was represented by Addison County Public Defender Jerry Schwarz, who declined to comment following the sentencing.