How Could You? Hall of Shame-Lee Alex Snyder UPDATED

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, Community Residential Rehabilitation Group Home worker Lee Alex Snyder,23, ” is charged with felony counts of statutory sex assault, institutional sex assault and unlawful contact with a minor” after “allegedly having sex at his apartment with a 14-year-old girl from the home.”

His job at the group home included “planning and supervising children, including their work, recreation, study and community service activities.”

“”We are aware of the charges against him and are working with the appropriate officials involved in investigating this case,” said Mike Hopkins, president and chief executive of the Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley, which operates the facility.

According to a police affidavit filed in court, Snyder had been giving the girl gifts including a wrist watch, a stuffed animal and an iPod case leading up to their encounter.

Then, in the girl’s room at the group home, officials found a journal indicating she’d had sex with Snyder and an iPod that contained “an abundant amount of text messaging communication between the two,” according to the affidavit, filed by Hanover Township police Sgt. David Lewis.

The girl told police she had sex with Snyder at his apartment on March 29. It happened while she was on a weekend visit to her home – Snyder asked her mother’s permission to take her, police said.

Snyder picked the girl up and brought her to his apartment for about eight hours during which time they had sex in Snyder’s bedroom twice, according to the affidavit. The next day, the girl and Snyder had a video chat in which she appeared nude at his request, police said.

Under questioning, Snyder admitted to police that he’d had sex with the girl twice and that they had spoken by video chat, according to the affidavit. Snyder told investigators that he and the girl were nude in their respective showers during their talk, police said.

Hopkins said Snyder no longer works for the group home, though he declined to say whether he quit or was fired, saying it was a personnel matter.

Snyder had worked at the location for less than a year and passed FBI and state background checks before being hired, he said.

“We meet all state and actually Joint Commission accreditation standards, which is the highest standards,” Hopkins said.

Magisterial District Judge Gerald L. Feissner arraigned Snyder on Tuesday evening and set his bail at $50,000.

A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Joseph A. Halesey was set for 9:30 a.m. April 30.

Snyder was being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.”

Group home worker charged with sex assault

[Citizen’s Voice 4/18/13 by James Halpin]

REFORM Puzzle Piece

Update: “A former staff member of a Nanticoke group home pleaded guilty Monday to having sex at his apartment with a 14-year-old girl from the facility.

Lee Alex Snyder, 24, of Lee Park Avenue, Hanover Township, pleaded guilty to a single count of institutional sexual assault.

Court records say Snyder knew the girl from his job at the Community Residential Rehabilitation Group Home in Nanticoke, where he was responsible for planning and supervising children, including their work, recreation, study and community service activities. According to a police affidavit filed in court, Snyder had been giving the girl gifts including a wrist watch, a stuffed animal and an iPod case leading up to their encounter.

Then, in the girl’s room at the group home, officials found a journal indicating she’d had sex with Snyder and an iPod that contained “an abundant amount of text messaging communication between the two,” police said. The girl told police she had sex with Snyder at his apartment on March 29. It happened while she was on a weekend visit to her home. Snyder had asked her mother’s permission to take her, police said.

Snyder picked the girl up and brought her to his apartment for about eight hours during which time they had sex in Snyder’s bedroom twice, according to the affidavit. The next day, the girl and Snyder had a video chat in which she appeared nude at his request, police said.

Under questioning, Snyder admitted to police that he’d had sex with the girl twice and that they had spoken by video chat, according to the affidavit. Snyder told investigators that he and the girl were nude in their respective showers during their talk, police said.

Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough will sentence Snyder on April 7.

Vough ordered Snyder not to have contact with the victim or anyone at the group home.

Snyder will be required to register as a sex offender, the judge ruled.”

Hanover man pleads guilty to sex with teen

[Citizens Voice 12/31/13 by Bob Kalinowski]

Update 2/October 9,2014: A search of the Pennsylvania Court records shows that Lee is sentenced to 9 to 23 month in prison.