“Ben Snowden, 28, will compete this weekend in the Big Air BMX Triples competition at the OC Fair,” according to the O.C. Register.
Excuse me? Why didn’t the Register’s latest article about Snowden mention what they reported back in April of this year:
Twelve people, including a professional BMX rider, have been arrested in conjunction with a six-month string of burglaries at various schools throughout the Santa Ana Unified School District, school police said.
School police Sgt. Mark Van Holt said pro BMX rider Benjamin Snowden, 28, and his accomplices were part of a team that would break into multiple classrooms in the middle of the night and steal laptop computers and overhead projectors.
Why would the Orange County Fair allow a guy who was accused of robbing schools to participate in this event?
Isn’t this a bit ridiculous? I don’t know if Snowden was ever cleared of the charges as the Register never revisited the story. But this just doesn’t make any sense. What was the O.C. Fair Board thinking?
Art,
Is “guilty until proven innocent” a new libertarian tenet? If not, they should give you the boot. What are you thinking about?
Larry,
I agree that he has yet to be proven guilty, but look again at this quote:
School police Sgt. Mark Van Holt said pro BMX rider Benjamin Snowden, 28, and his accomplices were part of a team that would break into multiple classrooms in the middle of the night and steal laptop computers and overhead projectors.
Until the matter is resolved isn’t it prudent to NOT invite this guy to local events?
It might be significant that none of the adults listed in the original school burglary story show up in the OC court computer as having ever been charged for those burglaries or anything related to them.
#3,
I wonder if they settled out of court with the SAUSD?
Probably needs to make some legit money to pay the restitution
Why isn’t this guy behind bars? He took a sledge hammer to my door and broke into my classroom allegedly. I couldn’t even get into my classroom. Of course no one from the school could either or the custodian. The district had to call someone in so that I could get into my classroom that this guy trashed. Why is he allowed to be out and at the Fair? I don’t get this one. This BMX biker was caught breaking into my classroom….now he is performing at the OC Fair….I would like something done about this.
So where is the story of the fair grounds being sold? Big Deal, one small time crook gets all the attention and the big prize is sold off by the Republicans. Makes no sense to me!!! Where is the truth when we need it.
CJ
It wasn’t a small time crime…it was MANY classrooms and over many weeks. Something needs to be done about this one. I don’t care if it was alleged or not…the man was caught and now he is at the OC FAIR around kids.
Art,
Restitution involves being charged and convicted criminally, or sued in civil court first. Although not all records are available to the general public on the court website it is unlikely that out of all of the adults listed in the original story not one would come up with some form of related charge.
It is possible the school police could not make a strong enough case for the DA to file on or the juveniles actually caught recanted their stories.
Like most SAUSD matters, God only knows.
#9,
Well the SAUSD police are mostly retreads, but their new Chief is an SAPD officer.
I wonder why the Register never followed up on the original charges?
It is an ongoing investigation. Be patient, the “retreads” are working on it.
P.S. – The OC Fair folks are gonna wish they didn’t.
#11
I previously neglected to list the possibility that the case was still ongoing. I’m happy to hear it.
While I can’t speak for Art, ‘retread’ to me simply means experienced. Unfortunately experience also means not releasing names prematurely for the sake of publicity and hindering your own investigation. Personally I hope you make the case anyway and the DA files.
People who might be guilty of burglary should be banned from riding their bike at a fair? Yikes, Art, as libertarians go your inner fascist is starting to bubble up.
Let a judge who has heard all the evidence impose a suitable sentence, and if probation does not prohibit bike jumping maybe it will help keep him busy and out of trouble.
Ron,
That is a gross over-simplification of the charges. If true this guy and his friends robbed public schools – in a district that is very financially challenged. This was a direct affront to the poverty-stricken people of my city.
Being a Libertarian does NOT mean accepting or encouraging crime.
I agree that this guy should have his day in court but it is inappropriate to allow him to participate in a PUBLIC fair after he allegedly ripped off a PUBLIC school district, IMHO.
Guy is pathetic
The OC Fair has dozens of concurrent events going on during the 5 week fair. Most events, including BMX Triples, are put on by outside promoters. There is no way they can know the background information of every single performer in every rodeo, band, baking competition or even Fair visitor. They are responsible for their own employee hires and for them, everyone is background checked. The onus would be on ASA Entertainment, who puts on the BMX event, not the Fair proper.
Another investigative article FAIL by Art Pedroza. By the way, why doesn’t Mr. Pedroza contact Fair officials with these accusations before posting the stories? Oh, I know, he would never let the truth get in the way of a ‘good’ story. Pffft.