Choir Volunteer Charged with Soliciting Nude Photos, Sexual Favors

By Valerie Boateng and Elizabeth Dickson
Coshocton Tribune
July 23, 2013

http://www.coshoctontribune.com/article/20130722/NEWS01/307220004/Choir-volunteer-charged-soliciting-nude-photos-sexual-favors-passed-four-background-checks-fair-spokeswoman-says?gcheck=1


A man accused of soliciting nude photos and sexual favors in regard to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir had volunteered with the organization for only one year.

Zachary Ruppel, 26, of Columbus, was arrested and charged with disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and compelling prostitution involving a minor in regard to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir.

Ruppel was an unpaid volunteer in 2011 and has not been a volunteer or had official contact with the fair since, said Alicia Shoults, state fair spokeswoman. Shoults said Ruppel passed four rounds of background checks before he was allowed to become a volunteer.

Those reviews included a check with the sex offender registry and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction as well as a drug test and background check.

Columbus Police Department Sgt. Terry McConnell said complaints were made to the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir staff that Ruppel was soliciting nude photos and sex acts in exchange for positions in the choir from his St. Francis DeSales High School students as well as other juveniles involved with the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir dating back to 2011.

Randy Peddicord is the attorney for Charles Snyder, of Coshocton, who is the director of the choir. Peddicord said Synder was the one to report the incident to administrators at the Ohio State Fair and that Snyder was placed on leave afterward.

“There are mandated reporters of these types of incidents, and we want to make sure that those that were mandated to did so,” McConnell said.

Two other employees who were suspended have been cleared and are back to work, McConnell said. It is anticipated Snyder will be called in for a meeting this week to discuss his involvement with reporting the case.

McConnell said the department is trying to identify and locate other possible victims.

Ruppel was director of choirs at St. Francis DeSales High School and part of the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir staff. Officials from DeSales and the Ohio State Fair are fully cooperating with the investigation, McConnell said.

Shoults said Snyder was placed on unpaid administrative leave July 11, and his return date is unknown, pending the completion of the investigation. Snyder is considered a seasonal employee by the fair.

Beth Vaughn, the associate choir conductor, is serving as the acting director during Snyder’s leave. Vaughn has been a staff member with the choir for 15 years.

Snyder became the conductor of the All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir in 1992. He also has been the director of the Coshocton Community Choir for more than 40 years and is the music director at Coshocton Presbyterian Church.

In 2008, Snyder was inducted into the Ohio State Fair Hall of Fame for his work as the youth choir director.

The All-Ohio State Fair Youth Choir is a group of 200 high school students chosen each spring to perform. The group started rehearsal and preparation July 18.

This year’s state fair starts Wednesday and continues through Aug. 4.