Granby man denies child rape, sexual abuse charges

CREATAS CREATAS

By MICHAEL CONNORSStaff Writer

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

NORTHAMPTON — A Granby man answered in court last week to numerous allegations of child sexual abuse, including the aggravated statutory rape of a child.

Steven C. Trznadel, 35, pleaded not guilty on Nov. 3 in Hampshire Superior Court to 11 sex crimes, including four counts of aggravated statutory rape of a child, four counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14, posing or exhibiting a nude child, possession of child pornography and disseminating obscene matters to a minor.

Trznadel was represented by Aliki Recklitis from the Committee for Public Counsel Services, who did not respond to a request for comment on Friday. Judge Richard Carey set bail at $1 million surety, $100,000 cash. Court documents say Trznadel is “to be held until GPS (is) in place.”

According to a police report filed in Eastern Hampshire District Court in Belchertown in July, police on an unspecified date received a call about a possible sexual assault. A woman known to the alleged victim told police that she had become aware of a sexual relationship between a child and Trznadel, who were known to each other.

In a recorded interview with police, the woman said that she had observed Snapchat messages sent from the child to Trznadel that were sexual in nature, according to the police report.

The woman also discovered sexual messages between Trznadel and the child that were sent over Instagram. The woman told police that the child had told her that Trznadel and the victim have had physical sexual relations. In a July interview with the Granby Police Department, the child described having a sexual relationship with Trznadel since the fall of 2019.

Later that month, Trznadel waived his Miranda rights and was interviewed by police at Baystate Hospital in Springfield. He allegedly told police that he and the child had maintained a sexual relationship since the fall of 2019. Trznadel reportedly told police that the relationship included the distribution of pornographic material between the child and himself. He reportedly admitted that the pornography consisted of images of both himself and the victim in states of nudity.

Trznadel also allegedly admitted to multiple sexual acts with the child. He is due back in court on April 7.