UPDATE 3:51 p.m.: Stockton's Mayor claims he did nothing wrong. Today he responded to his arrest on charges related to a game of strip poker last year at a camp he runs for disadvantaged youth.
Mayor Anthony Silva was arrested yesterday at the camp. He was charged with recording camp counselors playing poker without their knowledge. He's also charged with furnishing alcohol to minors and with child endangerment.
Silva made only only a brief statement today about his arrest.
"Everyone there was 18 years old. Number two, I never, ever, ever, ever, endangered a child, ever. Number three, I never provided alcohol to anyone and certainly did not secretly record anyone."
Silva also said investigators used a homeland security provision to illegally seize his laptops and cellphone.
Court records show there was an audio recording of teenage counselors playing strip poker, including one who was 16 years old.
An 18-year-old woman told an investigator six counselors and the mayor were playing. Some of the counselors were naked.
- Capital Public Radio Staff
UPDATE 2:15 p.m.: (AP) -- Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva has forcefully declared his innocence and says he never endangered children amid allegations that he made secret audio recording of strip game at youth camp run by him.
Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva made the statement at a news conference Friday afternoon.
On Thursday, he was charged with a felony of secretly recording confidential communications without consent.
He also faces misdemeanor charges of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, providing alcohol to people under 21, and child endangerment.
Silva is also accused of previously not reporting that a gun was stolen from his home until a month after it was used in the killing of a 13-year-old Stockton boy early last year.
Silva denied the charges filed Thursday and said he had nothing to do with the killing.
Update 1:50 p.m.: A day after being arrested on multiple charges, Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva addressed the media Friday afternoon.
During his short statement, Silva first addressed the San Joaquin County District Attorney's claim that he has been uncooperative in the investigation into the murder of a 13-year-old boy, the death was connected to a gun that Silva previously owned and had reported stolen.
Silva said he was "a victim of theft," and that he reported his stolen gun "as soon as I was absolutely sure it was missing."
Silva did not address the case further.
He then went on to talk about his arrest Thursday at his camp for underprivelege children. Authorities charged him (in a case unrelated to the shooting) of eavesdropping and recording confidential communications, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, furnishing an alcoholic beverage to a minor and cruelty to a child by endangering health.
According to the Amador County District Attorney's Office, Silva held a strip poker game at his camp and provided alcohol during the game to players, who were all under 21 years old. One of them was a 16-year-old boy.
Silva said he wouldn't address these charges further because it was a matter for the courtroom. But he made a few points.
"Everyone there was over 18 years old," said Silva. "I never provided alcohol to anyone. And I certainly did not secretly record anyone."
Silva did not accept any questions from the media following his statement.
Original: A day after being arrested on multiple charges, Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva addressed the media Friday afternoon.
Silva's charges include eavesdropping and recording confidential communications, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, furnishing an alcoholic beverage to a minor and cruelty to a child by endangering health.
In a criminal complaint, the Amador County District Attorney's Office says it has proof Silva held a strip poker game at the Stockton Silver Lake Camp and provided alcohol during the game to the players, who were all under 21 years old and were involved with the camp. One of them was a 16-year-old boy.
In a separate case, the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office says Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva is refusing to answer questions regarding a gun used in the killing of a 13-year-old boy last year. The mayor told police after the shooting that the gun had been stolen from his home.
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