Berwyn lawyer guilty of sex with a minor

A Chester County lawyer was convicted yesterday of having a sexual relationship with an underage boy whom he took into his Russian apartment after the child's family could no longer afford to send him to a prestigious ballet academy.

Kenneth Schneider, 45, of Berwyn, founder and president of a nonprofit arts group, was convicted of traveling for the purpose of engaging in sex with a minor, and of transporting a person for criminal sexual conduct.

During the trial, Roman Zavarov, now 24 and a professional ballet dancer in Arizona, told the jury that he met Schneider in 1998 when he was 12.

Schneider, who did legal work for companies owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and who led the Apogee Foundation, offered to pay for Zavarov's room and board at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, and convinced his parents to let him stay at Schneider's apartment so he could continue at the academy, he said.

Zavarov told the jury how he and Schneider had oral sex approximately three times a week and later anal sex about four times a week when he was 14 and 15 years old.

Zavarov testified that Schnei-der had given him a PlayStation, paid for private ballet lessons at the apartment, and provided him with food and clothing.

But he told the youngster to keep their relationship a secret, Zavarov said.

Schneider brought Zavarov to Philadelphia in 2001 for a summer program and then returned to Moscow to continue the relationship, authorities said.

Yesterday's verdict was satisfying for Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Morgan-Kelly. She said she hoped that the verdict would offer closure for Zavarov.

"Certainly the victim has suffered a great deal of anguish and depression," Morgan-Kelly said.

Schneider, who was arrested in Cyprus in March, will be sentenced Jan. 12. He faces a combined 25 years in prison.