Chess teacher, convicted sex offender faces life in prison after fleeing country

Chess teacher, abuser faces life in prison

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — A convicted sex offender has pleaded guilty to violating his probation after fleeing the country when he was supposed to be in Colorado.

Robert Snyder, a 55-year-old who authored the “Chess for Juniors” book series, entered the plea Friday. He faces the possibility of life in prison.

Snyder was supposed to be under intensive supervision after being released in 2008 on a child molestation conviction.

Prosecutors said Snyder used his world-renowned status as a chess teacher to gain families’ trust and to assault his chess students.

Snyder was located in Belize in November after the television show “America’s Most Wanted” featured him on an episode.

Information from: Fort Collins Coloradoan, www.coloradoan.com