Second charge of animal cruelty filed against Wilkes-Barre City Controller Snyder

Aug. 22—WILKES-BARRE — A second animal cruelty charge was filed against Darren Snyder, for allegedly kicking one of his dogs earlier this month near his downtown residence.

Wilkes University's police department on Aug. 11 filed a summary charge against Snyder, the elected Wilkes-Barre City Controller, based on information provided by the same witness for the first set of more serious offenses.

Snyder, 46, did not return calls left Monday with his office or private cell phone.

While the charges related to two separate dates, the alleged abuse occurred over a longer period and motivated the witness to surreptitiously capture it on video from a window while Snyder walked past with his two leashed dogs.

The witness, Katie Pelchar, provided school police with information regarding alleged abuse on Aug. 1 in the area of 165 S. Franklin St. at 9:19 p.m. As a result police filed a non-traffic citation alleging Snyder "intentionally, knowingly or recklessly kicked his dog twice in the head."

The citation carries a $300 fine and when combined with costs and fees, the total increases to $474.

In an email response, Wilkes University said the summary offense was based on the evidence presented at the time by the witness. The school's police department reviewed campus surveillance footage. "That footage did not clearly determine if injury to an animal had been caused (required for a misdemeanor charge), but we saw enough to believe the summary offense was warranted."

Two days later on Aug. 3, Pelchar videoed Snyder allegedly abusing two dogs and provided the video to Wilkes-Barre City Police Department officers.

The complaint filed the next day stated: Pelchar said Snyder, who is known to her, "consistently abuses his two dogs while walking them." She was unable to get a video of Snyder abusing one of the dogs on Aug. 2, but was successful the following night.

City police filed misdemeanor charges of cruelty to animals and disorderly conduct against Snyder. A preliminary hearing has been set for Snyder at 9:15 a.m. on Sept. 13 in Luzerne County Central Court.

The public reaction to the initial set of charges forced Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown to issue a statement that he has no authority to discipline another elected official. The city controller operates independently from the mayor's office.

Brown's statement read: "It would be clearly inappropriate for me to comment on the pending criminal charges involving the City Controller. No matter how disturbing I find the allegations, this matter relates to criminal charges filed by the Wilkes-Barre Police Department against an elected city office holder. As Mayor, I have no jurisdiction or power to determine the next course to be taken by Mr. Snyder. I trust that he will make the right decision for himself, his family, and the people that elected him."

Snyder, a Democrat, was first elected to the office in 2015 and reelected to a second, four-year term in 2019. His salary was budgeted at $55,549 plus benefits.

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570-991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott.