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Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva, a Republican, was arrested on August 4 at his Silver Lake Stockton youth camp in Amador County on charges involving contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
Silva, who held anti-gay prayer rallies at megachurches and once gave God a key to the city was arrested after recording underage male teens playing strip poker in his bedroom.
Silva, 41, was charged with eavesdropping or recording confidential communications, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing alcohol to a minor and cruelty to a child by endangering health, according to court records.
The incidents for which Silva is being charged happened between Aug. 5 and Aug. 9, 2015, at the Stockton Silver Lake Camp, according to the Amador County District Attorney.
CBS reports Silva’s cellphone was seized by the FBI and investigators zeroed in on four videos and 23 photos. The clips were apparently taken during Silva’s 2015 youth camp at Silver Lake.
In a press release issued by the Amador County District Attorney’s Office,
investigators describe what was discovered on one video clip:
In one of the video clips, it appeared that moments after the video began, the phone was set down, darkening the camera lens and thus only containing audio. That clip contains audio of a conversation between participants involved in a strip poker game that occurred in Silva’s bedroom. The conversation between the participants indicated that they were naked. One of the participants was a 16 year old male.
The audio of the surreptitious recording clearly indicates that the participants did not want to be recorded. Witnesses also informed FBI agents that Silva provided alcohol to the participants, all of whom were underage, including a minor. Witnesses stated that Silva had supplied alcohol and made it available to a number of underage counselors at camp.
Silva has denied the accusations. He was released Thursday afternoon on $20,000 bail. Despite the denial, many are calling on Silva to resign immediately.
City Councilman Dan Wright used Twitter to ask for Silva’s resignation in light of the mayor’s recent arrest.
And in a statement posted to their Facebook page, the Stockton Police Officers Association is also calling for Silva to resign immediately.
Bottom line: Another day, another “family values” Republican politician who uses religion as a political weapon is exposed as a hypocrite exploiting the vulnerable for his own prurient pleasures.
Agencies/Canadajournal
