Assistant Warren County Prosecutor Teresa Hiett filed a motion on Nov. 23 asking Common Pleas Judge Neal Bronson to revoke Snyder’s $100,000 bond because he allegedly cut the GPS monitor off that day and they did not know his whereabouts.
Clermont County sheriff’s deputies arrested him the same day at a relative’s home in Bethel where he has been living. Warren County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy John Newsom said Snyder was transported from the Warren County jail to a mental institution this morning, Dec. 2, but would not explain the reasoning.
Snyder plead not guilty April 15 by reason of insanity to aggravated burglary and felonious assault charges, both felonies, and a misdemeanor assault charge for allegedly attacking an inmate once he got to the jail.
Snyder, 26, is accused of breaking into a neighbor’s townhouse in the Beacon Hill Townhouses in Deerfield Twp. in the middle of the night and assaulting a man in his bedroom.
In jail the first time, Snyder refused to eat and was put on suicide watch after attacking another prisoner.
Bronson deemed Snyder incompetent and sent him to Summit Behavioral Healthcare for treatment May 27. Following treatment, Bronson on Aug. 21, found that Snyder was able to stand trial.
Snyder’s attorney Hal Arenstein filed a “suggestion of incompetence” motion on Nov. 30. Snyder’s family has asked Arenstein not to discuss the case.
On Oct. 7, Bronson upped Snyder’s bail from $25,000 to $100,000 and granted him permission to return to China to play basketball. The order spelled out that he was to leave the country no earlier than Oct. 30 and must return no later April 20. Snyder was ordered not to leave China prior to April 15 without prior court permission. His trial is scheduled to start Feb. 22. He faces up to 10 years in prison if he is found guilty.
Court Administrator Scott McVey said Snyder did not go to China. He said community corrections was alerted that Snyder’s GPS device had been tampered with and they alerted law enforcement.
Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel said she has no idea why Snyder didn’t go to China.
“I can say there are concerns about his mental health,” she said.
Snyder led the University of Nevada to the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16 in 2004. He was the 16th player taken in the 2004 NBA draft and played for several NBA teams before spending the past season in a pro league in China.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4525 or dcallahan@coxohio.com.
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