Though she was denied bond on Monday, Andrea Sneiderman may still find herself freed from prison within six months.
For now, the Dunwoody widow remains in the Arrendale State Prison in northeast Georgia after DeKalb County Superior Court Judge Gregory A. Adams ruled Monday that she didn’t meet two of the four tests necessary for bond.
“Specifically, (Sneiderman) has not satisfied this court that there is not a substantial risk she will flee or that any pending appeal has merit, is not frivolous or is not for the purpose of delay,” Adams wrote.
But Sneiderman — convicted in August on charges of perjury and hindering the investigation into the November 2010 fatal shooting of her husband, Rusty, by her former boss, Hemy Neuman — won’t have to wait long for her next opportunity to get out of prison.
She’s eligible for parole in April, according to Steve Hayes, spokesman for the Georgia State Board of Pardons and Paroles. Based upon a parole eligibility grid used by the sate, which calculates the severity of the offense along with the odds of recidivism, Sneiderman is unlikely to serve more than 20 months (including time served under house arrest) of her 5-year prison sentence.
“I would certainly believe, if they follow the normal guidelines, she has a very good chance of being released in April,” said Atlanta criminal defense attorney Steve Sadow, who has no connection to the case.
Sneiderman’s attorney, Brian Steel, would not comment on the possibility of parole.
“While we are all disappointed in the ruling, the state has admitted that she is not a danger or harm to society,” Sneiderman’s friend, Joseph Dell, said in a statement. “We all hope that the parole board remembers that when they consider her case.”
Steel said he expects to receive the transcripts of Sneiderman’s criminal trial in January and will file his appeal soon after.
At last week’s bond hearing, Steel argued that Sneiderman passed all the tests required for an appeal bond.
“There is no evidence that she is a risk to flee,” he said, adding that Sneiderman would never leave her two children or uproot them.
The state concurred that Sneiderman does not pose a substantial danger to the community and is not a threat to intimidate witnesses but disagreed that she met the other requirements for bond.
Prosecutor Anna Cross said Sneiderman “has every motivation to evade and flee justice and she has the means to do it.”
“She has accepted no responsibility for her crimes,” Cross said.
