Thomas W. Sneddon Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas W Sneddon Jr.
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| Born |
Thomas William Sneddon
May 26, 1941 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | November 1, 2014 (aged 73) |
| Occupation | 33rd District Attorney of Santa Barbara County (retired) |
| Spouse(s) | Pamela Sneddon |
| Children | 9 |
Thomas William Sneddon Jr. (born May 26, 1941 – died November 1, 2014) was a well-known District Attorney for Santa Barbara County, California. He worked as a prosecutor for over 30 years and served as the District Attorney for more than two decades. He is remembered for his involvement in major legal cases, including those related to entertainer Michael Jackson.
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About Thomas Sneddon Jr.
Thomas Sneddon Jr. was a dedicated public servant who spent many years working in the legal system. He was known for his long career as a prosecutor and for leading the District Attorney's office in Santa Barbara County.
His Early Life and Career
Thomas Sneddon was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1941. He grew up in Northern California. He attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1963. While there, he was part of the boxing team. Later, he studied law at UCLA Law School, finishing in 1966. It was at law school that he met his wife, Pamela. From 1967 to 1969, he served in the U.S. Army.
His Role as District Attorney
In November 1969, Thomas Sneddon began working as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Barbara County, California. He held this position until May 1977. He was then promoted to Supervisor of Criminal Operations. On January 3, 1983, Sneddon became the 33rd District Attorney for Santa Barbara County. He was re-elected five times without anyone running against him. He retired from the District Attorney's office in 2010.
Thomas Sneddon was a father of nine children. He was very involved in efforts to help children. Since 1991, he was the Chair of the Committee for Child Support Enforcement. In 1995, he received an award called the "Director's Award" from the California Family Support Council. The next year, he was asked by the U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno to help review and improve how the government handles cases where parents don't pay child support.
Important Legal Cases
Thomas Sneddon was involved in several important legal cases during his career. One of the most widely known cases involved the entertainer Michael Jackson. In one instance, an investigation was conducted, but no charges were filed against Jackson.
Another important court case involving Jackson went to trial in 2005. At the end of this trial, on June 13, 2005, Michael Jackson was found not guilty.
In 1995, Michael Jackson released a song called "D.S." which was reportedly about Thomas Sneddon. However, Sneddon stated that he never listened to the song. It was also reported that Jackson kept a list of people he felt were against him, and Thomas Sneddon's name was on this list.
His Passing
Thomas Sneddon passed away on November 1, 2014, at the age of 73.
