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A former Valencia High baseball head coach accused of embezzlement was ordered to stand trial this week.
A former Valencia High baseball head coach accused of embezzlement was ordered to stand trial this week.

Former Valencia High Baseball Coach Charged With Embezzlement

Former Valencia High Baseball Coach Jared Snyder pleaded not guilty on embezzlement charges, District Attorney officials said Wednesday.


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A Los Angeles County judge ordered an arrest warrant for Synder, according to a Sheriff’s Department statement Tuesday.

Snyder was ordered to appear Wednesday on charges on a seven-count felony complaint, alleging misappropriation of public funds by a public officer, embezzlement by a public officer and grand theft by embezzlement.

In March 2014, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Fraud & Cyber Crimes Bureau initiated an investigation based on the findings of the William S. Hart School District’s audit, according to a Sheriff’s Department news release.

The losses to the program are suspected to exceed $15,000, according to Sheriff’s Department officials.

During the 10-month investigation, evidence was gathered that showed Snyder was submitting fraudulent reimbursement forms to Valencia High School ASB, officials stated.

According to a Sheriff’s Department statement:

“During the district audit, it was discovered that Snyder had opened a second bank account in the name of Valencia Diamond Club, unbeknownst to the district.

The source of the deposits into this bank account was from fundraisers and donations intended for the Valencia High School Baseball program and its players.

During the audit, it was determined Snyder was seeking reimbursement for items previously reimbursed by the ASB.

The investigation revealed that Snyder was making monthly payments to his personal credit cards from the second “Valencia Diamond Club” bank account.

In addition to the fraudulent cash reimbursements, Snyder was using the same credit cards to make personal charges unrelated to the Valencia High School Baseball program.

The investigation revealed there was $8,000 in fraudulent cash reimbursements embezzled from the ASB. An additional $7,000-plus was misdirected from the second Valencia Diamond Club bank account to pay for his personal charges on credit cards.  Due to the unavailability of records from retail stores and online companies, it is believed the loss exceeds what was listed in the complaint.”

On January 15, 2015, Judge Henry Barela of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, issued a felony arrest warrant for Snyder, bail was set at $70,000.

Snyder is scheduled to surrender at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center onJanuary 21, 2015.

News Release Update From District Attorney

Valencia High School’s former head baseball coach pleaded not guilty today to charges that he embezzled between $10,000 and $15,000 from the school and a booster club over a six-year period, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.

Snyder is scheduled to return on March 6 to the Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Department 50, in case BA432673. He was released on his own recognizance. The Public Integrity Division is handling the case.

While serving as varsity baseball coach, Snyder allegedly submitted fraudulent reimbursement forms to Valencia High School. He also was in charge of the team’s parent-funded booster club account and is accused of paying for personal credit card expenses from that fund. The complaint alleges the crimes occurred between April 2008 and February 2014.

The William S. Hart Unified School District conducted an audit in 2014 after receiving a complaint of financial irregularities in the baseball program. The audit was turned over to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

He is charged with one count each of misappropriation, embezzlement by a public officer, embezzlement by a private officer, and four counts of grand theft.

If convicted, Snyder faces up to six years, eight months in state prison.

The case remains under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department.

Do you have a news tip? Call us at (661) 298-1220, or drop us a line at community@hometownstation.com.

KHTS AM 1220 - Santa Clarita Radio

Former Valencia High Baseball Coach Charged With Embezzlement

One comment

  1. They should check the same, for the Cheer Program. Ask Gail…:(

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About Perry Smith

Perry Smith is a print and broadcast journalist who has won several awards for his focused, hyperlocal community coverage in several different regions of the country. In addition to five years of experience covering the Santa Clarita Valley, Smith, a San Fernando Valley native, has worked in newspapers and news websites in Los Angeles, the Northwest, the Central Valley and the South, before coming to KHTS in 2012. To contact Smith, email him at Perry@hometownstation.com.