NORWICH – An Afton man was found not guilty of all the charges against him following a bench trial in Chenango County Court Wednesday.

Curtis Snyder was arrested along with his 23-year-old son Matthew M. Snyder last Jan. 22 over allegations involving the theft and possession of nearly $30,000 worth of items taken from several burglarized homes.

Matthew Snyder pleaded guilty in January to two counts of burglary in a plea arrangement that will send him to state prison for four years. He testified in court that his father was unaware of his activities.

Matthew Snyder took the stand Wednesday and admitted he burglarized 11 different homes in the Afton area, stealing tens of thousands worth of property between 2005 and 2007.

“For the past three hours we heard Matthew Snyder speak and at the risk of stating the obvious, Matt Snyder is not on trial here,” said defense attorney Kenneth P. Whiting III.

“Judge, this is an instance of the prosecution attempting to place the sins of the son at the feet of the father,” said Whitman.

Prosecutor Stephen M. Dunshee had argued that Curtis Snyder was aware of his son’s activities and help to sell and store the property. The family all lived under the same roof and the assistant district attorney argued that it was impossible for Curtis Snyder not to be aware of the 80-plus pieces of stolen property found at the residence, which included several chainsaws, firearms, a four-wheeler, a dirt bike, $7,000 worth of jewelry, tools and more.