Children's Author Arrested For Alleged Relationship With Underage Girl

SANTA ANA (CBS) — A children's book writer from San Clemente was behind bars Thursday on suspicion of having sex with an underage girl for nearly a year, an Orange County sheriff's spokesman said.

Michael Snyder, 43, was arrested about 7 p.m. Wednesday as he was picking up his children at the Boys and Girls Club in San Clemente.

The girl told her mother about the alleged relationship with Snyder, and her mother alerted authorities on Wednesday, officials said.

"He is the author of children's books and has been involved with after- school programs so we're concerned ... We don't know what kind of access he has to children," Orange County sheriff's spokesman Jim Amormino said.

Snyder also owns a company that subcontracts with the state Department of Developmental Services to provide services for mentally and physically disabled people and their families, Amormino said.

On Snyder's children's book website -- beetlebugbooks.com -- he is identified as Mr. Mike, and the list of books includes, "Lemon Drop Rain," "Swimming In Chocolate" and "Over the Top."

Snyder was being held on $100,000 bail on suspicion of child molestation.

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