Bail Doubled For Torrance Teacher, Wrestling Coach Accused Of Lewd Acts With Male Student Athletes
TORRANCE (CBSLA.com) — Bail was more than doubled to $2 million Tuesday for a Torrance High School teacher and wrestling coach accused of lewd acts with 25 male student athletes.
Thomas Joseph Snider, 47, had been behind bars in lieu of $900,000 bail since he surrendered last Wednesday to Torrance police detectives. He pleaded not guilty last week to 33 counts of committing a lewd act on a child and eight misdemeanor counts of child molesting involving crimes that allegedly occurred between September 2013 and this February.
The 25 victims were student athletes on Snider's team and ranged in age from 13 to 16, with most of the acts occurring at school, Deputy District Attorney Hyunah Suh said.
Snider was on administrative leave from the school district while the police investigation was conducted. Detectives began their investigation in January "after allegations of sexual misconduct had been made by several students," according to Torrance police Sgt. Paul Kranke said.
Snider, who is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the criminal case, is scheduled to return to court on May 1 for the setting of a preliminary hearing date.
If convicted as charged, Snider faces a possible maximum sentence of more than 37 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.
(©2015 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)