Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva Arrested In Amador County
SILVER LAKE (CBS13) - The latest on the arrest of Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva:
1:45 p.m.
One Stockton city councilman is asking for Anthony Silva to resign in light of the mayor's recent arrest.
Councilman Dan Wright laid out his thoughts on Silva's arrest:
"As the father of two children - and as the principal of an elementary school located in Stockton - today's news is highly troubling. If these charges are true, I call on Anthony Silva to resign immediately. We cannot let today's incident hinder Stockton's progress. Mayor Silva, with his repeated involvement with law enforcement, and now this arrest has proven he can't be the person to guide our community during our transition from the era of bankruptcy and foreclosure to becoming a first-class city," Wright wrote over the course of several tweets.
Wright ended by saying "it's time for Stockton to move forward."
In a statement posted to their Facebook page, the Stockton Police Officers Association is also calling for Silva to resign immediately:
A court date for Silva has not yet been announced, the Amador County district attorney's office says.
11:59 a.m.
Mayor Anthony Silva's arrest stems from an investigation that allegedly uncovered suspicious videos and photos on his cellphone, the DA's office says.
According to the Amador County District Attorney's Office, 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 by the DA, 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."
The DA's office goes on to say that Silva is suspected of taping a conversation he had with a City of Stockton employee without their consent.
A witness also alleges that Silva has cameras installed in his bedroom and at the Stockton Kid's Club, the DA's office says.
As a result of Silva's arrest at his 2016 iteration of the youth camp, the City of Stockton says their parks and recreation department is on their way to take over the camp. The camp will continue normally until the bus comes tomorrow, the city says, but some parents are reportedly on their way to pick their children up.
11:25 a.m.
Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva was arrested in Amador County on charges involving minors.
Silva is facing four charges, according to the Amador County court website: eavesdropping on or recording confidential communications, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, furnishing an alcoholic beverage to a minor and cruelty to child by endangering health.
READ: The Full Criminal Complaint Against Anthony Silva
According to the criminal complaint, the charges date back to August 2015.
Silva was attending his youth camp for underprivileged kids at the Silver Lake campground this week. He was arrested Wednesday night by FBI at the camp with the help of the Amador County District Attorney's Office.
Silva's was booked at Amador County Jail on Thursday morning. His bail was set at $20,000.
The DA's office says they were alerted by the FBI last week about an investigation into Silva.
In apparently unrelated troubles for the mayor recently, a gun registered to Silva but stolen from his residence was linked to two crimes - including the killing of a 13-year-old boy. The San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office said Silva was working with them on their investigation.
Back in 2015, Silva was detained at San Francisco International Airport after coming back from a business trip to China. Silva said his electronics were seized.
This is a developing story. Keep checking back for updates.
