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  The Rev. Snyder Pleads No Contest in Corruption

By Rick Lee and Melissa Nann Burke
Daily Record
May 14, 2009

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_12368630?source=most_emailed

Confronted with the possible addition of felony charges, the Rev. Scott Allen Snyder pleaded no contest Thursday to two misdemeanor corruption-of-minors charges.

Police charged the 35-year-old pastor last year after, officers said, Snyder had kissed a 13-year-old girl from his congregation and sent thousands of text messages, including images of his genitalia, to a 14-year-old girl.

Scheduled for trial before Judge Gregory M. Snyder (no relation), Snyder accepted a plea offer Thursday from the district attorney's office to avoid a possible conviction on the felony charges.

In accordance with that plea agreement, Snyder was sentenced to five years' probation and no contact with the victims.

According to a motion filed by deputy prosecutor Janan M.E. Tallo, the commonwealth wanted to amend the charges to include obscenity and contact/communication with a minor involving obscene material/performance, both third-degree felonies punishable by up to seven years in state prison.

Scott Allen Snyder

At Thursday's hearing, defense attorney Joanne Floyd told the judge that Snyder was pleading to avoid "the great risk of having a felony conviction and possibly facing jail time."

Tallo told the judge the offer was extended largely because the victims "were unhappy" with the prospect of testifying.

After the hearing, Tallo said she was pleased the defendant accepted the plea arrangement, preventing "the victims from being further victimized" by having to testify in a public hearing.

Floyd declined to comment Thursday.

In a statement Thursday, Snyder maintained his innocence and blamed the situation on "several untruthful, miserable, disrespectful people along with the negative biased media" who "relentlessly continued to ruin my credibility...."

"Now my chances to prove my innocence and credibility has been marred to the point where for the sake of my family, New Beginnings Bible Fellowship, and myself I must accept consequences for things I have not done ...," he wrote.

He thanked those who pray and support him and the church.

"To those of you who have participated in these vindictive allegations may you realize that God forgives and Jesus loves you, and may you seek him and his forgiveness above all else," he wrote.

Church member Donna Stough, 57, of Chanceford Township was pleased with the outcome, saying the result proved God had his hand in the process.

"I think he's been through enough. I don't know how else you can state the fact that you're innocent any more than he has," she said.

Snyder called Stough and other church members Wednesday and asked their advice, she said.

"He said that if it flip-flopped and went the other way (at trial), he could get jail time and we could lose the church," she said.

Stough ensured Snyder she was behind him as long he didn't admit something he didn't do. She was glad he didn't take a chance with a jury.

"You can't guarantee the end result of a trial. You're counting on 13 people to come through with the same theory. I know I wouldn't want to put myself on the line."

With the case closed, Stough expects that members who have left New Beginnings will return. Since the fall, attendance at worship has fallen to 40 or 50 people from 100.

Deb Gladwin of Red Lion is among those who left. She wasn't surprised by Snyder's plea, despite his previous promise to prove his innocence.

"All along I couldn't believe he was going to trial and let this all be brought out. Now, he's left it so it will all stay kept under the rug," Gladwin said.

She stopped going to New Beginnings shortly after the police filed charges in August because she didn't believe Snyder's explanation.

"I knew the one girl, she's a very sweet girl. She loved the pastor and his family, and she loved the church," Gladwin said. "She wasn't trying to get him in trouble like he said. The police were the ones who asked for her phone."

Gladwin was also disappointed when Snyder said in a previous statement that the case was an attack against Christians and the church.

"None of this has to do with Jesus or the church. It's all about him," Gladwin said.

Snyder said he remains pastor of the 3-year-old, nondenominational church "as decided unanimously by the congregation." He said he remains administrator of its Christian school and the unaccredited New Beginnings Bible Institute, which offers associate degrees in Bible theology.

New Beginnings Christian School closed at the end of last school year, but Snyder said the plan is to reopen in the fall.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

"No contest" is also known as nolo contendere, which means "I do not wish to contend."

When a defendant in a criminal case enters the nolo contendere plea, he is not admitting guilt, but he is stating that he will offer no defense.

The defendant, in effect, accepts punishment for the charges. Like a guilty plea, the no-contest plea can be used against the defendant in a future legal proceeding.

PAST IN QUESTION

Last year, officials confirmed that credentials listed online for a Windsor pastor were incorrect.

The credentials included academic degrees from schools he did not graduate from, pastoral jobs he did not hold and a police task-force position he never filled, according to interviews with school officials, people who worked with him and police.

The Rev. Scott Allen Snyder, 35, of New Beginnings Bible Fellowship has said he did not know where the information posted on his church Web site came from. The information was removed from the Web site.

A previous employer provided the York Daily Record/Sunday News with resumes said to be from Snyder, but Snyder did not respond to requests for comment about them. He repeatedly declined to disclose an accurate educational history.

 
 

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