QUINCY – The Milton High School track coach accused of kissing a 16-year-old member of his track team is being treated for Parkinson’s disease, and that treatment has increased his libido and decreased his impulse control, his defense attorney said today.
Dale Snyder pleaded not guilty in Quincy District Court to one count of indecent assault and battery and two counts of assault and battery before Judge Mark Coven, who set bail for the 64-year-old Abington resident at $10,000 cash.
Defense attorney Thomas Lawton told Coven that a key issue in the case is how Snyder, a married man with a teenaged child, had changed since he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s about two years ago. Those changes have intensified while he receives a drug that Lawton identified as Stalevo.
Lawton told Coven that Snyder’s impulse control has been weakened since the diagnosis and the treatment began. At the same time, Snyder’s libido has increased, the attorney said.
Snyder, who is scheduled to retire June 24 after 27 years in the Milton public schools, is accused of indecently assaulting the unidentified girl on June 2 while in his office at Milton High School. The assault took place two days after Snyder and the girl had an uneventful meeting at his office, according to Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam C. Lally.
On June 2, Snyder was sitting at his desk when he reached out and took the student by the hand, Lally said. He first kissed her on the cheek, and then told her, “now for the big one.’’ At that point, he kissed the girl on the lips, Lally said.
The prosecutor said the teenager broke away from Snyder, told him she was uncomfortable, and that the long-time track coach told her not to discuss the incident.
Lally also said the kissing incident was just the latest chapter in what he called Snyder’s “special interest’’ in the high school student. He said that in recent weeks, Snyder gave the girl a leather bracelet and also followed behind her on his bike as she rode her bike to her home.
In an interaction witnessed by the victim’s mother, Snyder allegedly gave her his business card and told her to contact him so they could bike together.
Snyder is due back in court June 26 for a pre-trial conference.
Brian Ballou can be reached at bballou@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter at @globeballou. John R. Ellement can be reached at ellement@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @JREbosglobe.
