Man guilty on two charges in crash
An Oakdale man was found guilty on two of four criminal charges stemming from an incident last year in which his pickup truck smashed into glass doors at a McMurray automobile dealership.
Following a nonjury trial Tuesday, Washington County Judge Katherine B. Emery found Robert Snatchko, 55, of 197 Redwood Drive, guilty of criminal mischief and simple assault. The judge acquitted Snatchko of terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.
Police were called at 9:09 a.m. Nov. 15 to Vasko Dodge on Route 19, where they found a red Dodge Ram at a 45-degree angle into the building. Snatchko, the driver, was not in the truck.
William Vasko told police he had previously spoken to Snatchko, and Snatchko expressed displeasure with a roadside assistance policy that didn’t cover him locking his keys in the truck.
Snatchko threatened to call the media and used profanity before William Vasko hung up, according to police.
Snatchko called back and spoke with John Vasko, vice president of Vasko Dodge, and threatened to run his truck into the building, police said.
Snatchko was seen in his truck in the dealership parking lot, about five feet from the door, and was then seen getting out of the vehicle as it moved toward the building.
Snatchko was taken to St. Clair Hospital, Mt. Lebanon, where he was treated for unspecified injuries and released.
Snatchko claimed the incident was an accident, and that he thought the truck was in park as he stood outside it smoking a cigarette.
No one in the dealership showroom was injured.
Emery set sentencing for 2 p.m. April 23.