Teen YouTube star Steven Fernandez allegedly used his prank video fame to lure a 12-year-old girl into his car and convince the child to have sex with him, Los Angeles police said.
Fernandez is known for starring in prank videos that often go viral, gaining millions of views on Youtube. Investigators said they hope publicity about the teen's arrest will help them find other victims.
His manager Jose Barajas, 22, and pro skateboarder Keelan Lamar Dadd, 27, were also charged committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.
The girl was walking on Ventura Boulevard in the Los Angeles suburb of Encino when Fernandez allegedly convinced young girl to step into his car and then commit a sex act with promises of introducing her to celebrities and putting her on his non-existent MTV show, the LAPD said.
The LAPD launched an investigation after the girl reported the incident. Detectives then set up a sting operation by posing as the minor to send text messages to Barajas and Fernandez to set up another meeting. They were arrested at an abandoned house where the sex was supposed to take place, police said.
Fernandez was released to his mother, but must wear an ankle bracelet until his next court date.
Please don't ever give up on me
-- SCUMBEEZY (@StevenFhoney) December 17, 2015
An example of Fernandez's videos is this prank in which he tries out different pick lines on random females walking on sidewalks of Los Angeles.
