A Millsboro man who pleaded guilty to kidnapping and robbing an elderly Rehoboth Beach couple has been sentenced to prison.
In July 2018, Steven Snell, 30, went to a home on Cornwall Road asking to use the phone. Once inside, Snell threatened the couple with a box cutter, then forced the victims into his car and drove to an ATM where he took money from their account.
In August, Snell pleaded guilty to Kidnapping First Degree, 2 counts of Robbery First Degree, and 1 count each of Home Invasion, Assault Second Degree, and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony.
Snell was sentenced by the Court to 20 years in prison, followed by 1 year of work release, then 2 years of probation. The work release and probation will include GPS monitoring.
Update
A Millsboro man charged with kidnapping and robbing an elderly Rehoboth Beach couple has pleaded guilty.
Steven Snell, 29, pleaded guilty in Superior Court to Kidnapping First Degree, 2 counts of Robbery First Degree, Home Invasion, Assault Second Degree, and Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony.
In July 2018, Snell entered a home on the unit block of Cornwall Road and after asking to use the phone, threatened the couple with a box cutter. Snell forced the victims into his car and drove to an ATM where he withdrew money from the couple’s bank account. Snell, who faces a minimum of 17 years in prison, will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in October.
Original Story
Rehoboth Beach- The Delaware State Police have arrested a Millsboro man after he entered a residence armed, assaulted the victims, and then kidnapped them, according to Public Information Officer, Master Corporal Melissa Jaffe.
Jaffe said the incident occurred on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at approximately 9:43 a.m. when Troopers were dispatched to the M&T Bank located at 19511 Camelot Drive, in reference to a victim reporting she was kidnapped and her vehicle was stolen. Upon arrival, contact was made with an 81-year-old female victim who stated that a suspect left the bank with her husband in the trunk of her vehicle. The vehicle was located parked behind the Subway at 19470 Coastal Highway. The victim’s 82-year-old husband was located and the suspect had fled on foot.
Further investigation revealed that the suspect, Steven Snell had responded to the victims’ residence located in the Rehoboth Beach Yacht and Country Club earlier in the morning. Snell entered the residence through an open garage door and once inside, he made contact with the male victim and asked to use the house phone. After Snell used the phone, he asked the victim for a drink.
The victim provided Snell with a drink of water and when he proceeded to turn around, Snell grabbed him from behind and put a box cutter to his throat, according to Jaffe. A brief struggle ensued in which the victim received a laceration to his chin. The victim proceeded to yell for his wife who was upstairs. As the victim’s wife proceeded downstairs, she was met by Snell who pushed her to the floor. Snell then obtain rope that he had in his book bag and tied the male victim’s arms behind his back and his feet together, according to Jaffe. Snell then took an undisclosed amount of cash out of the male’s pocket and the female’s purse, along with an M&T Bank Card, officials said.
Jaffe said Snell then placed the male into the truck of the victim’s vehicle and the female in the front passenger’s seat and left the residence. As they arrived at M&T Bank, Snell ordered the female to the ATM machine to withdraw cash. After the female withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash, she tried to hold onto a railing as Snell began to try and pull her back to the vehicle. A customer had arrived at this time and observed what was going on, at which point Snell let the female go and fled the area in the vehicle with her husband still inside the trunk. The female then proceeded into the bank and requested help.
While still in the trunk, the male realized the vehicle had come to a stop. He was able to free his hands, locate a release button inside the trunk, and exit the vehicle. The male victim was treated at the scene and the female victim was not injured during this incident.
Through investigative measures, Troopers were able to identify Snell as the suspect, said Jaffe. Snell was later apprehended without incident at a residence located in Potnets, Creek Side, Millsboro. He was transported back to Troop 7 where he was charged with 2 counts of Kidnapping First Degree, 3 counts of Robbery First Degree Displays What Appears to be a Deadly Weapon, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Home Invasion, Assault Second Degree, Theft of a Motor Vehicle, and Offensive Touching. Snell was arraigned before the Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on $362,100.00 cash only bond.
