Iowa City man faces 10 years for enticing child outside homeless shelter

IOWA CITY — An Iowa City man was convicted this week for soliciting a 10-year-old girl to have sex with him last summer outside a homeless shelter in Iowa City.

Sixth Judicial District Judge Michael Harris on Monday accepted the plea of Ronald Snipes, 58, to enticing a minor under 13. He faces up to 10 years in prison. His other charges of grooming and harassment will be dismissed at sentencing.

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His trial was set to start Tuesday in Johnson County District Court.

Snipes approached the 10-year-old outside Shelter House, 429 Southgate Ave., in an attempt to entice the child, according to a criminal complaint. He started asking her sexually explicit questions until the child ran away crying to find her mother, the complaint stated.

A witness, who was painting the girl’s fingernails during this time, overheard Snipes’ comments to the child, according to a criminal complaint.

A no-contact order was filed to protect the child and will likely be extended when Snipes is sentenced.

His sentencing is set for March 2.

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