US Olympic wrestler Kyle Snyder entered a guilty plea to a charge of disorderly conduct on Monday in a Columbus, Ohio court, concluding legal proceedings that followed his arrest during a police prostitution sting.
The 29-year-old former Ohio State athlete was among 16 individuals apprehended. Police had placed an online escort advertisement, which Snyder responded to via call and text. He later arrived at a Quality Inn and Suites where he offered payment to an undercover officer for oral sex.
Although initially facing a charge of engaging in prostitution, Snyder`s plea on Monday was to the reduced misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct.
Judge Cynthia Ebner accepted the plea after Snyder acknowledged responsibility for his actions and completed an educational program known as “John school,” designed for those arrested on prostitution-related charges.
“I`ve learned a lot through this process,” Snyder stated during a phone appearance in court. “It taught me a lot about myself, and I plan on making much better decisions.”
He added regarding the course, “The John school was really good, it`s a great course, and I learned about why I made the decision that I did was because I had too much pride. I learned about the impact that these decisions have on not just my family but the community. It was a very impactful course.”
Snyder`s attorney, Eric Hoffman, also spoke in court, conveying the decorated wrestler`s deep regret for his actions and calling the incident a “lapse in judgment.”
The outcome of the case was a $250 fine plus court costs imposed on Snyder following his guilty plea to disorderly conduct.
Snyder is a three-time Olympian with both gold and silver medals, recognized as one of the most accomplished wrestlers in American history. He holds the distinction of being the youngest American wrestler to win Olympic gold (in 2016) and is also a three-time NCAA champion from his time competing for Ohio State.
Marcus Blakely