Unicycle Teacher Behind Bars on Sex Charges
By Dan Breitwieser, WCJB TV 20News.
Putnam County Sheriff's Deputies say on at least one occasion the father of the girls was on the property. He was promised fame in show business for his 9-years old and 16-years old daughters. But what they got was an altogether different bargain. And those who know the man, cannot believe what detectives say he did.
"He seemed like a fantastic neighbor," says Barbara Snyder.
She's in shock that her next-door neighbor Daniel Snodgrass is in jail for molesting two of his students.
"That I can't believe because I didn't know Danny that well, but I like to think I knew him well enough," added Snyder.
The Sheriff's report states the father of the victims signed a contract with Snodgrass in September, promising to teach the girls to ride the unicycle. Detectives say after gaining their trust, he had them try on lingerie and pose while he took pictures. The girls say on several occasions he gave massages and touched them inappropriately. And one time, the younger sister was tied naked to his bed while he performed sex acts indoors, while her father waited outside the house.
Roger Carper had rented a room at the house for the last six months while holding down two jobs. Carper says he didn't even know Snodgrass owned a unicycle, much less that he taught others how to ride.
"He seemed like a very nice person," says Carper. "I won't be staying for another six months. No sir."
Detectives say Snodgrass had been living at his home in Satsuma for 9 years. But they don't know how many other unicycle students he taught.
"We'd be naïve to think this is his first time," says Putnam County Sheriff Dean Kelly. "So we're very much looking into that and the investigation continues."
Meanwhile, Snyder still can't believe the neighbor she describes as a perfect gentleman is behind bars.
"It's just shocks me," says Snyder. "Although they say you don't know a person."
Sheriff Kelly says parents need to be on their guard. He says it's not a bad idea to do some homework before signing up with a coach or teacher. He says to be on the lookout for warning signs like inappropriate hugs or mannerism changes in your child.
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