Opening statements are expected this morning in the federal trial of a Schuyler County man accused of sexually abusing three boys that were all under the age of 13 at the time of the alleged incidents.
Daryl Vonnedia is accused of using religious and morbid themes in the sexual abuse of the boys.
In the federal complaint, the 62 year old is accused of abusing the boys he found at a Horseheads church by pretending to kill them, asking them to play dead and instructing them to touch themselves. The town of Dix man is charged with three counts of producing child pornography, nine counts of possessing child pornography and two counts of transporting minors across state lines for sex. He also faces charges in Schuyler County of sexual abuse and course of conduct against a child.
Vonneida's request to have all but two of the federal counts against him dismissed was denied in December. He has three sex abuse convictions dating back to 1970. If convicted on the federal counts, Vonneida faces life in prison.
