28 October 2011

TRUE and HONEST artist's depiction.

On 28 October 2011, a date which will live in infamy, The GAMe PLACe was suddenly and deliberately attacked by forces of the City of CWCville. On that fateful Friday evening, at around 5:20 p.m., Chris and Barbara visited the GAMe PLACe, where Chris has been banned since 2008. Chris took a photo of the store and then two of owner Michael Snyder in the parking lot. All hell broke loose when Chris and Barbara allegedly each hit Michael once with their car. When the Jerkops arrived, Chris and Barb assaulted them during the arrest.

Chris and Barb were charged with a Class 5 Felony, which entails "a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than 10 years, and [...] a fine of not more than $2,500." They were bonded out on 29 October, with Chris's initial hearing taking place one week after Barb's.

The Chandlers were represented in court by Rob Bell, a Republican member of the Virginia House of Delegates. On 10 July 2012, a plea bargain was reached. Barbara was sentenced to community service and two years of probation. Chris was sentenced to community service, one year of probation, and mandatory psychiatric treatment and evaluation. They must also pay Michael Snyder's medical expenses.

The charges

Below are the charges brought against both Barbara and Chris, along with details and court dates based on the details from the General District Court Online Case Information System & Charlottesville City Circuit Online Case Information.

Barbara's

• FAIL STOP ACCIDENT > $1000 FEL (§ 46.2-894. Duty of driver to stop, etc., in event of accident involving injury or death or damage to attended property; penalty.)
  • Class 5 Felony charge - Failing to stop after an accident where the damage exceeds $1,000 in value, from hitting Snyder with the vehicle.
• ASSLT: ON LAW ENF/DOC PERSON (§ 18.2-57. Assault and battery.)
  • Class 6 Felony charge - Assaulting a law enforcement official. This occurred when Barb attempted to prevent the police from arresting Chris.

Court dates

• 31 October 2011 - Appeared in court to be formally charged.
• 15 December 2011 - 1:00pm - Judge Robert Downer Jr. granted a continuance for both Chris and Barb's charges.
• 5 January 2012 - 1:00pm - Yet another continuance.
• 5 April 2012 - 1:00pm - Another hearing. Both felonies go to a grand jury at Circuit Court.
• 16 April 2012 - 9:30am - Indicted on both felony charges.
• 10 July 2012 - 2:00pm - Arraignment.

Chris's

• FAIL STOP ACCIDENT > $1000 FEL (§ 46.2-894. Duty of driver to stop, etc., in event of accident involving injury or death or damage to attended property; penalty.)
  • Class 5 Felony charge - Failing to stop after an accident where the damage exceeds $1,000 in value, from hitting Snyder with the vehicle.
• ASSAULT: (MISDEMEANOR) (§ 18.2-57. Assault and battery.)
  • Class 1 Misdemeanor charge - Attempted or actual assault against another person, perhaps Snyder.
• TRESPASS AFTER FORBIDDEN (§ 18.2-119. Trespass after having been forbidden to do so; penalties.)
  • Class 1 Misdemeanor charge - Trespassing on land or within an area from which the offender is forbidden, no doubt due to setting foot in The GAMe PLACe.

Court dates

• 7 November 2011 - Appeared in court to be formally charged.
• 15 December 2011 - 1:00pm - Judge Robert Downer Jr. granted a continuance (postponement) for both Chris and Barb's charges.
• 5 January 2012 - 1:00pm - Yet another continuance.
• 5 April 2012 - 1:00pm - Another hearing. Nolle prosequi on the trespass and assault; the failure to stop goes to Circuit Court.
• 16 April 2012 - 9:30am - Indicted on the felony charge.
• 10 July 2012 - 2:00pm - Arraignment.

Civil suit

Michael Snyder also filled a civil suit against both Chris and Barb on 1 November 2011, 4 days after the incident. Barb attended a second hearing on 14 November, a third took place on 15 December, at the same time as her criminal case hearing, and a fourth occurred on 5 January at 1:00 PM.

Chris' case at one point read 'Other Judgement', however, it appears to have been open again. Presumably, Chris appeared again in court on 5 January 2012 at 2:15 PM, shortly after his criminal hearing.

Before the court hearing, Michael Snyder requested and received a Preliminary Protective Order against both Chris and Barbara. This order is similar to a restraining order, and prohibits Chris or Barb from contacting Michael or engaging in any threatening behavior towards him before the hearing. The order lasts for 15 days.

On 5 April, Snyder was awarded full Protection Orders against both Chris and Barbara. A Protection Order can last up to two years and violation of the Protection Order can result in both civil and criminal charges.

No further information on the civil suit has emerged since then, and with the Chandlers having been ordered to pay Snyder's medical bills as part of their plea bargain, it seems likely that the suit will not proceed any further.

Chris retaliates

On 4 November, soon after being bailed out of jail, Chris uploaded the pictures he took of Michael Snyder on the 28th to the CWCki, plastering them on the front page and the page on Michael. In the image descriptions, Chris taunted Snyder for his obesity and claimed that he molests children.

In the February Facebook leaks, Chris stated 'After October 28, 2011; I now have TOTAL Disrespect and Miscontent of the so-called "Officers of the Badge"' as opposed only to those in colors other than blue and black. He also produced 50 copies of a flyer calling the GAMe PLACe a "Cyber bullies' hang-out" and encouraging people to stay far away which he then left around his usual attraction locations. This led to another run in with Jerkops; Chris escaped by "hiding and weaving around the parked cars" and by driving a Mistubishi as opposed to Son-Chu.

Arraignment, plea bargain, and sentencing

The arraignments took place on 10 July. Two CWCki Forum members named Cyan and Indigo went to the courthouse and afterwards recounted the proceedings.

A plea bargain was settled upon because Michael did not want Chris and Barb to be stuck with felony charges. Rob Bell said that despite this, Chris and Barb maintain their version of the events as accurate. Before Chris's turn to speak, Bell referred to him as "high-functioning autistic" and then as an "adult autistic child", much to the chagrin of Chris. When the judge asked Chris if he understood that he had to pay Michael's medical expenses, Chris replied something along the lines of, "Yes, but I don't think that thieving/bribing liar deserves a red cent!" He then begrudgingly pleaded guilty.

Barbara was sentenced to community service and two years of probation; Chris was sentenced to community service, one year of probation, and mandatory psychological treatment and evaluation, plus jail time unless he complies.

The next day, Chris wrote a note on Facebook confirming Cyan and Indigo's report. Chris claimed that Rob Bell confronted the two "trolls" and that the trolls will get arrested.

Email?

Someone purporting to be in contact with Chris leaked an email, supposedly from Chris himself, shedding some light on the events of October 28. While the validity of the email is disputed, Surfshack Tito confirmed on /cwc/ that the events of October 28 are basically the same as that described in the email.

I tell about us two landing in jail. During a usual, yettiring, shopping outting with my mother, we had just stopped at the Salvation Army story on Cherry Ave and left with a few purchases. She impulsively asked to go to the SPCA Rummage Sale, and I ended up taking 4 St. NW to stop by the McDonalds there for a cup of tea to go, when at the PLACe, now known as "C-Ville Game & Hobby" (status unchanged on the PLACe website), mom and I read the sign on the window that led me to an occurrence I was waiting for, the PLACe under New Ownership (with burning it down being the alternative). So, I continue ahead for the tea, and mom asked for a smoothie. On an impulse of the newfound piece of freedom, I drove back to the PLACe, upon closer inspection, I read the "New Owner" sign further, stating, "Under New Ownership of Mike & Madeline"; I had thought, perhaps it was another Mike. Mom insisted on coming in with me, so we did, and a few steps in, who did our eyes see in the new center counter, past employee Nathan, and Michael Snyder. I hid behind my mother for a moment, and Mike pointed us out the door, but before leaving, I whipped out my 3DS, activated its camera and took his photo, then I shouted, "For the Internet". Mom and I made our way to the van and entered it; Mike followed us out, and Stood right in front of the van, thinking he was Stonewall Jackson. We backed up the van some; Mike chased us. Mom took the wheel; Mike twice made his own deliberate leg scars, rubbing his legs on our bumper, banged our hood and fell backwards; we had NOT moved our van at either instance of him faking his falls. And more shit happened. Mom called 911 on my phone first (followed shortly after by Mike being handed a phone by someone else for him to make his call. Eventually, mother backed us out onto 4 St. NW, northward, and we escaped. But at the traffic light, we were caught up by a cop car. Parked at the nearby courthouse, two of the cop cars, and us in the van, exchanged the tales of the event and our driver licenses. Eventually, I was asked to step out of the van; I was about to be handcuffed, but I would not have another handcuffing, so I fought, I was pinned, and I was handcuffed. My NEW pair of $324 Rx lens glasses were broken by THEM in the fight. My mother fought the police in my defense, and she was handcuffed and I was emotionally distraught, I screamed and Screamed and SCREAMED, until an ambulance came for my mother to take her to UVA Hospital; she was okay, but her Blood Pressure was high. I was driven to, entered and thrown into a cell block. At first for a while, I was as melodramatic and sane as Daria, then I started going crazy, I shouted television talk and songs at random; took off my shirt due to the heat; pretended to be a genie with light brown hair for a while, and made an acquaintance with the stainless steel sink with a hex-shaped bowl. I prayed a LOT to Jesus for my release and safe return home with my mother. And I banged the cell door with both my feet while lying on a folding mattress on the floor (to get those bastards to let me see and talk to my mother Eventually, my mother arrived, tried to post bail, but there were errors. Rocky was called to help us, BLESS her and her husband soo much. Then my mother was jumpsuited and jailed; I was too shortly before. And I was moved to two other cells. Only after seeing my mother in her suit pass by my second cell, did I start to calm down. I was REALLY WORRIED about my mother and her health. She Needed Me, and I Needed Her. Eventually in cell 3, I dozed off and slept for a few hours. I did not eat their food; I had Never eaten Prison Food, and I was NOT going to start then. About 3 PM on the 29th, mom and I were released, and Rocky and her husband drove us back to our van. Now mom and I each have our own courthouse dates. I'm sure mom will be only fined, but I have the worse of cases. Mom and I, we are certain I will be found not guilty; it was a case of a Deliberate Deception, with the "New Ownership" sign from Michael, and my falling for his trap. I later printed out the facts of Mike from the Cwcki that night, and I found the "CWC Michael Snyder Interview" video on YouTube, where the clown-faced troll called Mike; Michael Snyder CONFESSES to Wanting to lure me in and land me in jail with a "Pokemon Tournament on the 22nd". I have streamed from my PS3 to my Laptop to get an MP4 of the video, and to burn the video onto a DVD-R. With this great amount of evidence, we will find Michael Guilty of being a Troll/Cyber Bully among those who have been pestering, deceiving, tricking, blackmailing, etc, me for about 4 years now. That's the story I share with you, REDACTED, in Strictest Confidence; DO NOT TELL ANYONE, PLEASE. Do not ask; Do not tell; Barbara and I are working diligently to deal with this. Currently, her court date is set on 12/15; mine is yet to be determined on 11/7, but it'll probably be on the same day as my mother's. We have also been blessed with connections from Rocky at my church to have Robert B. Bell, Delegate, Republican, Methodist Esquire to represent Barbara and me in both of our cases. It may help to have you come in for support on my trial, and as a character witness. I will send you an update later on. Stay Safe, REDACTED, Christian W. Chandler

Chris's photos

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  Chris's photo of The GAMe PLACe; note that everyone is looking at the camera

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  Chris's photograph of Michael Snyder

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  Chris's second photograph of Michael Snyder

Screenshots

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  Barb's failure to stop felony charge

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  Barb's felony assault on a police officer charge

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  Chris's failure to stop felony charge

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  Chris's misdemeanor assault charge

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  Chris's trespass misdemeanor charge

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  Michael Snyder's civil suit against Chris

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  Michael Snyder's civil suit against Barbara

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  Michael Snyder's protection order against Barb.

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  Michael Snyder's protection order against Chris.

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  Updated court info on 5 September 2013.

Fan art

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  Artist's depiction of Chris's mugshot.

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  Why so serious?

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  Oh dear...

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  An artist provides a theoretical court sketch.

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  An artist compiled Chris's crimes onto a rap sheet. (Page 1/2)

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  An artist compiled Chris's crimes onto a rap sheet. (Page 2/2)

See also

• This is how the Trial went, reports from the courthouse
• 6 June 2010, a previous altercation with Michael Snyder
• Chris and the Law