Prosecutors offer Glendora man plea bargain in underage sex case

POMONA - A Glendora man accused of engaging in sex acts with three underage boys has been offered a plea bargain in his criminal case that carries a prison sentence, a prosecutor said this morning.

David Earl Snyder, 52, is "discussing the offer," his attorney told a judge today in Pomona Superior Court, where Snyder appeared for an arraignment.

Snyder did not enter pleas today to the 10 felonies charged by prosecutors, and his arraignment was postponed to Aug. 2.

Deputy District Attorney Lauren Guber declined to specify the length of the prison term contained in the plea offer to Snyder. Guber said Snyder could accept the offer Aug. 2. He remains free on $255,000 bail.

Snyder was arrested May 1 following an investigation by the La Verne Police Department.

Prosecutors filed ten felony counts last month against Snyder. The charges include four counts of oral copulation of a minor, one count of sodomy of a minor, two counts of possession of child pornography, and three counts of contacting a minor for a sexual offense.

Prosecutors allege Snyder's crimes took place between Sept. 1, 2008 and May 1 of this year.

During Snyder's court appearance today, a judge ordered the Los Angeles County Probation Department to prepare a "pre-plea" report. The judge's order was made at the request of Snyder's attorney, John Murray.

Guber said probation officers will review evidence in Snyder's case, "and they'll make a recommendation on what the sentence would be" if Snyder were convicted at trial.

"It's pretty typical," she said.

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Here's my first story about Snyder's case:

Glendora man charged for alleged sex with underage boys

By Will Bigham, Staff Writer

Posted: 07/03/2010 07:45:57 PM PDT

POMONA - A Glendora man has been charged with 10 felonies for allegedly engaging in sexual acts with three underage boys, possessing child pornography, and other crimes.

David Earl Snyder, 52, was arrested May 1 following an investigation by the La Verne Police Department. Prosecutors filed criminal charges against Snyder on June 25.

Snyder, who works as a website designer, became an advocate for stiffer penalties for "trunking" - riding in the trunk of a car - after his son, 15-year-old Chris Snyder, was killed in 2005 accident involving the practice.

"My son died from trunking, and I want to make kids aware that if they do that they could die," Snyder told a reporter in 2007 after a state law went into effect increasing penalties for "trunking."

The 10 felonies filed against Snyder include four counts of oral copulation of a minor, one count of sodomy of a minor, two counts of possession of child pornography, and three counts of contacting a minor for a sexual offense.

Prosecutors allege Snyder's crimes took place between Sept. 1, 2008 and May 1 of this year.

Detective Chris Dransfeldt, the investigating officer in the case, declined last week to discuss the details of Snyder's alleged crimes.

Snyder was arrested May 1 at about 11 a.m. at his home in the 1600 block of Bentley Place. He was released from custody at about 2:30 p.m. after posting $75,000 bail, according to booking records.

At Snyder's first court appearance Thursday, Commissioner Wade D. Olson raised his bail to $255,000.

Snyder arrived in Pomona Superior Court with two bail bondsmen, and was able to post a new bail bond and leave the courthouse with a promise to return July 16.

"I see you have the bond posted, so you are free to go," Olson told Snyder.

Snyder was not arraigned Thursday on the charges contained in the 10-count complaint. His arraignment is now scheduled for July 16.

Snyder declined to comment to a reporter after the court hearing.

Snyder's son and another 15-year-old boy, Scott Achingston, were killed on May 4, 2005 in the "trunking" accident in Glendora.

A 17-year-old unlicensed driver from San Dimas had four boys beside himself riding in his Mazda Protege, with Chris Snyder and Achingston riding in his trunk, which was closed.

The driver lost control of his car on Route 66 near Compromise Line Road. The car spun out, hit the center median and slammed into a tree.

Snyder and Achingston, who both attended Glendora High School, were thrown from the trunk and struck by a van traveling in the opposite lanes.

The driver of the car was convicted of a misdemeanor and sentenced to six months in a juvenile camp. David Snyder criticized prosecutors for filing misdemeanor charges against the driver.

"I'm shocked at the legal system," Snyder said in a May 2005 interview. "You can take a cell phone and be charged with a felony (whereas) you grossly negligently kill someone and are charged with a misdemeanor. I've never wanted to see the driver hung out to die and I know his life has been destroyed, but a misdemeanor?"

After his son's death, Snyder spent several months constructing a fountain in front of his home to memorialize his son. The fountain still stood last week at the corner of Snyder's property.

Snyder established a foundation to educate young people about the dangers of reckless riding. The foundation has granted scholarships to high school students, according to the foundation's website.