New trial begins for alleged Plainfield sex abuser

A second jury trial began Tuesday for a Plainfield man accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl after a Will County judge agreed he received ineffective legal counsel.

On Sept. 7, 2016, a judge had found William G. Snow, 55, of Plainfield, guilty of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and battery but not guilty of criminal sexual assault.

Snow was charged with sexually abusing a girl, who now is 21, while she was sleeping at his home in 2014.

Snow’s ex-wife, Sheryl, was the girl’s cheerleading coach and his two children were friends with her, according to a Plainfield police report. The girl had been at Snow’s home after a graduation ceremony for his son.

Snow was initially represented by attorney Paul Napolski but filed a motion for another trial through his new attorney, Omer Jaleel, after accusing Napolski of providing ineffective representation. The motion was granted on Feb. 23, 2017.

During opening statements, Will County Assistant State’s Attorney Jeffrey Brown told the jury the evidence will show Snow had assaulted the girl while she was asleep and witnesses will say how she told them of what happened.

“The girl had no reason to lie. She is going to tell the truth on the stand,” Brown said.

Jaleel argued to the contrary, telling jurors the girl was inconsistent in her statements and thus not credible.

“Every time she’s spoken, she’s given a different account of what my client allegedly did to her,” Jaleel said.

The girl was the first witness at the trial and recalled details of the alleged attack, which she said left her frantic.