U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell denies abuse allegations, custody trial concludes

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sean Parnell on Tuesday vehemently denied that a photograph purporting to show a handprint-shaped welt on a child’s back was of his child.

“That’s not a picture of my (child),” Parnell repeated twice.

The testimony came during cross-examination Tuesday during his custody trial. Both he and his estranged wife, Laurie Snell, are seeking primary custody of their children, ages 12, 11 and 8.

The trial, before Senior Judge James Arner, concluded Tuesday afternoon. Arner said he was not prepared to rule from the bench and will review the exhibits and testimony before issuing a written opinion and order as soon as he is able.

Parnell spent less than an hour on cross-examination Tuesday, never wavering from testimony on Monday when he denied allegations by Snell that he had ever struck her or their children, or that he had ever asked her to have an abortion.

Snell’s attorney, Jill Sinatra, who had previously admitted a photograph of the welt into evidence, showed Parnell a poster-sized blow-up of the picture as she asked him questions about the allegation that Parnell struck one of their children in the back in early 2018, leaving the mark.

“I denied that the incident ever happened in the first place,” Parnell said.

As she continued to ask questions, Sinatra asked Parnell if he recognized the background of the photo as being the child’s bedroom.

“I can’t tell what color that is,” he said.

“Is there something wrong with your vision? You can’t tell that that’s a wall and baseboard? Mr. Parnell, come on,” she said, prompting an objection by Parnell’s attorney, Kristen Eberle.

During her questioning, Sinatra also asked Parnell about his use of his children in his social media posts.

On Nov. 1, following the first day of testimony in the custody case, Parnell posted a statement on his Facebook page, in which he wrote: “Today was a sad day for my family. We are in the middle of a custody trial and out of respect for the court, I’ll keep my comments brief.

“In court the mother of my children made a number of false allegations against me. Those allegations are lies. There is no truth to them, not one. They are complete fabrications; not distortions or misrepresentations — just flat-out lies. The truth is I love my family, and I love my children more than anything.”

The post, Sinatra said, received 4,500 likes, 871 comments and 122 shares.

“Did you give any though to what your children would think if they saw this?” she asked.

“That’s why I posted it,” Parnell said. “I can’t have them believing I could hurt their mother or abort them in any way. I was going to deny false allegations made against me in court.”

During cross-examination, Sinatra repeatedly asked Parnell about his work schedule — and the possibility of him having to be in Washington, D.C., frequently if he wins election to the Senate.

“Have you given any thought on how the congressional calendar would affect your ability to parent your children?” Sinatra asked.

“Of course,” Parnell responded.

On Monday, he testified that he hoped he and Snell could ultimately return to shared custody.

Also testifying for Parnell on Tuesday were Lori McGoogan, who has worked as a nanny for the Parnell children for about 10 years, and Melanie Rawley, Parnell’s girlfriend.

McGoogan told the court that she previously worked for both Parnell and Snell, but after their separation, she was hired by Parnell.

McGoogan characterized him as a good father. She said she never had any concern for the children’s safety and never saw him in a rage or lose his temper or physically punish the children.

On cross-examination, McGoogan testified that she has blocked Snell from being able to contact her.

“Every interaction I had with Laurie after the separation caused me stress,” she said. “I will not allow this in my life anymore.”

In the past, McGoogan admitted that Snell confided in her that she believed Parnell was rough with their children, and that Snell sent her the picture of the welt.

“It was all what she told me,” McGoogan said. “I was told these things.”

When asked by Sinatra if she thought Snell was a great mom, the witness answered, “I did … yes.”

During her testimony, Rawley said that she moved in with Parnell on Aug. 1, and that the couple began dating in September 2018.

Sinatra asked Rawley on cross-examination if she and Parnell had had a sexual relationship in 2014.

Rawley confirmed they had, noting that she was separated from her husband at the time and Parnell told her the same about he and Snell.

“It’s my understanding they were separated,” Rawley said.

Following the close of testimony, Arner allowed each attorney five minutes to make closing arguments.

Sinatra told the judge he should focus on two main issues in making his decision: Parnell’s availability to exercise shared custody and the allegations of abuse and hostility against him.

Sinatra said that Parnell’s hectic work schedule already limits his time spent with the children and that if he wins the Senate seat, he will spend at least 115 weekdays each year in Washington.

“How is he possibly going to get them to school?” she asked. “He’s simply not available for a shared custody schedule.”

Sinatra then turned to the allegations against Parnell by her client.

“There is a long history of bad behavior that has inhibited his ability to co-parent,” she said.

The attorney referenced Parnell calling Snell names, accusing her of having affairs and saying insulting things about her in front of the children.

Sinatra suggested the judge award Snell primary custody during the school week and every other weekend to give them consistency and stability.

But Eberle, in her closing, said that there have been no allegations of abuse or hostility against Parnell since he and Snell entered into a consent agreement for custody in April 2019.

Eberle told Arner that Snell presented no evidence of a pattern of abusive or hostile communication from Parnell and noted that her client has always maintained that a shared custody relationship with Snell would be best for the children. She also argued that Parnell and Rawley are blending their families together, which provides additional support for the children.

As for his availability, Eberle said that Parnell proved his work schedule can be flexible.

“He’s more than available,” she said. “He’s enthusiastic about being a parent.”