BY NATE TAYLOR • NateTaylor@coloradoan.com • October 22, 2009
In 2005, he got the attention of Fort Collins police, who arrested him after an investigation that turned up evidence he sexually assaulted multiple boys he taught through his Fort Collins-based Chess for Juniors.
And now, after his release from jail and failing to report for sex offender intensive supervision probation, "America's Most Wanted" is shining it's spotlight on Snyder.
The nationally televised show dedicated to helping law enforcement agencies track down fugitives will feature Snyder's case at 7 p.m. Saturday on Fox.
"What stood out about this case is the fact that we have a man who is using his talents and business to get close to children and to victimize them," said Michelle Sigona, a national correspondent for "America's Most Wanted." "There could be others out there who have not come forward because Snyder is probably the most well-known person in the chess community."
Snyder pleaded guilty in 2007 to felony sexual assault on a child by a person in a position of trust and two misdemeanor counts for unlawful sexual contact. He agreed to serve two years in jail for the misdemeanor charges and, upon his release, which turned out to be a year and a half later, he agreed to serve 10 years on intensive supervision probation.
He also would have been required to register four times each year as a sex offender.
Snyder was released from the Larimer County jail on Aug. 24, 2008, and was given five days to register as a sex offender. He also was supposed to meet with his probation officer the day of his release but never showed.
Felony warrants have been issued for two counts of failure to register as a sex offender and for probation revocation for sexual assault on a child.
A genius when it came to chess, Snyder used his internationally known chess skills to make money by writing multiple books, starting Chess for Juniors in Fort Collins and charging $40 per hour for the chance to play chess against him online.
"He became a very renowned chess player and chess master at a very young age, and, obviously, he's an intelligent person," said Fort Collins police Sgt. Paul Wood, one of the officers tasked with tracking down Snyder. "But he has an aura about him that he's smarter than the rest of us and that he doesn't have to comply with the rules the rest of us do."
His victims, according to police, were boys usually about 11 or 12, whom he groomed while teaching them to play chess.
"He would get them into a position where he could molest them, and that speaks to his personality that he's very controlling, and he's very intelligent in how he separates these kids," Wood said.
Chuck Spine, a 38-year-old man who testified in California court as a 10-year-old during another trial in 1983 when Snyder was eventually found not guilty of four counts of sexual assault on a child, said he spoke to "America's Most Wanted" with the hopes of encouraging other victims to come forward.
Spine, who consented to having his name published, said it took him nearly 10 years after he testified at trial to realize Snyder wasn't the role model, big brother and mentor he thought he was.
"Being a chess master, he is very deliberate in thinking many steps ahead. I didn't realize until later that I was a pawn, as it were, and I was so expendable," Spine said during a phone interview with the Coloradoan on Wednesday.
Wood said when Snyder is caught, it's possible he will be sentenced to life in prison.
"With the history of this case, I'd say there's a good chance he'll get the life sentence," Wood said. "The types of crimes he committed and he failed to comply with the conditions of the plea agreement. ... From our standpoint, we would advocate for a life term in prison."
Because Snyder is facing serious prison time if caught, Spine said he thinks his former chess coach is likely to victimize more young boys.
"Now he's a fugitive. Now he's a public enemy. He doesn't have anything to lose anymore," he said. "Why wouldn't he continue with this pattern of abuse? Whether he does it or not, he's going to jail for a long time, so I don't know if there's any deterrent out there for him at this point.
"Let's get the guy caught."
Wood said he's fairly certain Snyder is not in the Fort Collins area and that the chess master has fled the country, likely using connections he made while traveling the globe playing chess.
After exhausting local leads, Wood said he and other investigators asked "America's Most Wanted" if they'd be interested in featuring Snyder in an episode with the hopes of using Snyder's arrogance against him.
"We feel he has the need to be around people. We feel very strongly that someone has seen him and knows where he's living and how he might be spending his time," he said.
Wood said he also hopes the "America's Most Wanted" episode will encourage more victims to come forward.
"Our investigation centered on two victims for the purposes of prosecution, but we had evidence of more than two," Wood said. "All of us, as far as the investigative part, felt it was likely there are more victims that we are unaware of."
Police are certain Snyder will get involved with chess in some fashion, which could help lead to his arrest.
"He's going to be where he's familiar. He's going to be in contact in some manner or another with young boys," Wood said. "We believe pretty strongly he's going to be around the chess world in some fashion or another. ... We're hoping someone in that world has seen him or heard from him and can provide some information to us."
"Let's get the guy caught."
Wood said he's fairly certain Snyder is not in the Fort Collins area and that the chess master has fled the country, likely using connections he made while traveling the globe playing chess.
After exhausting local leads, Wood said he and other investigators asked "America's Most Wanted" if they'd be interested in featuring Snyder in an episode with the hopes of using Snyder's arrogance against him.
"We feel he has the need to be around people. We feel very strongly that someone has seen him and knows where he's living and how he might be spending his time," he said.
Wood said he also hopes the "America's Most Wanted" episode will encourage more victims to come forward.
"Our investigation centered on two victims for the purposes of prosecution, but we had evidence of more than two," Wood said. "All of us, as far as the investigative part, felt it was likely there are more victims that we are unaware of."
Police are certain Snyder will get involved with chess in some fashion, which could help lead to his arrest.
"He's going to be where he's familiar. He's going to be in contact in some manner or another with young boys," Wood said. "We believe pretty strongly he's going to be around the chess world in some fashion or another. ... We're hoping someone in that world has seen him or heard from him and can provide some information to us."