Olympic wrestling gold medalist Kyle Snyder admitted guilt to a disorderly conduct charge in a Columbus, Ohio court on Monday, bringing his case to a close after being apprehended during a police prostitution sting operation.
The 29-year-old former student of The Ohio State University was among sixteen individuals arrested. Authorities had placed an advertisement for escort services online, to which Snyder responded via call and text messages. He subsequently went to a local Quality Inn and Suites hotel where he solicited an undercover officer, offering payment for oral sex.
Originally facing a charge of engaging in prostitution, Snyder accepted a plea deal for the less serious misdemeanor offense of disorderly conduct during his court appearance on Monday.
Judge Cynthia Ebner formally accepted his plea after Snyder took full responsibility for his actions. He also completed a mandatory educational program commonly referred to as “John school,” designed for individuals arrested on prostitution-related offenses.
Speaking remotely in court, Snyder stated, “I`ve learned a great deal throughout this experience. It has taught me a lot about myself, and I am committed to making significantly better choices moving forward.”
He added, “The John school was genuinely valuable; it`s an excellent program. I came to understand that my decision was driven by excessive pride and recognized the significant impact these choices have, not only on my family but on the entire community. It was a truly profound course.”
Eric Hoffman, Snyder’s legal representative, also made a statement, conveying that the highly decorated wrestler felt deep regret for his conduct and characterized the incident as a “lapse in judgment.”
Ultimately, following his guilty plea to disorderly conduct, Snyder received a fine of $250, in addition to covering court costs.
Snyder holds a prominent place in American wrestling history, having earned gold and silver medals across three Olympic appearances. In 2016, he became the youngest American wrestler to ever win an Olympic gold medal. He is also a three-time NCAA champion from his time competing for Ohio State.
