Torrance Wrestling Coach Arrested and Charged with Molesting 25 Students

TORRANCE – 47-year-old Thomas Snider, a teacher and wrestling coach at Torrance High School, turned himself in to the Torrance Police Department in April 2015, after a three-month long police investigation involving misconduct and inappropriate behavior. The LA Times reported Snider was arrested and charged with 33 felony counts of inappropriately touching children and eight misdemeanor counts of child molestation.

All 25 alleged victims were members of the school’s wrestling team, and ranged in age from 13 to 16. The alleged conduct occurred between September 2013 and January 2015. Snider has been on paid administrative leave since January, after several students came forward with allegations of sexual abuse. The Torrance Unified School District released a statement after his arrest saying Snider was placed on unpaid leave.