Anthony Silva, the former mayor of Stockton, California, was arrested Sunday on a number of felony charges seven months after he was accused of playing strip poker with minors at a his youth camp and recording it.
Silva was arrested at San Francisco International Airport after returning from Colombia where he was on vacation, The Washington Post reported. He is charged with profiteering, embezzlement, misappropriation of public funds, and grand theft.
One of Silva’s attorneys, Allen Sawyer, said Silva’s arrest has no connection with the misdemeanor charges he received in August for allegedly secretly recording the strip poker game and giving teenagers alcohol. Silva has said everyone was at least 18 and that he did not provide alcohol to anyone, the Post noted.
A warrant for Silva's arrest on the new charges was issued a day after he left the country.
"He should have been more appropriately summoned into court, when he could have complied," said Mark Reichel, another one of Silva’s attorneys.
Sawyer claimed his client was very clear about his plans to go on vacation last week, and said that he would have cooperated with authorities if he had been given the opportunity, the Washington Post noted.
Silva is scheduled to be in court Monday afternoon.