N. Hollywood Child Molester Sentenced to 23 Years in Prison

A 50-year-old North Hollywood man was sentenced Thursday to 23 years in prison after he pleaded guilty in San Fernando Superior Court to four counts of lewd conduct with children.

Gerald Kurtz, who has three prior child molestation convictions, was originally charged with 12 counts of lewd conduct for performing sex acts with two Antelope Valley boys, ages 9 and 11. If he had been convicted on all counts, he could have been sentenced to more than 45 years in prison.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Joseph D. Payne III said he offered Kurtz a plea bargain so the victims, who are cousins, would not have to testify in a trial.

Kurtz was a friend of the boys’ parents. He invited the children to sleep over at his house where he then forced them to perform sex acts and take pornographic pictures, Payne said. The encounters took place on several occasions between September, 1988, and January, 1989.

Sheriff’s deputies searching Kurtz’s apartment found four photo albums filled with photos of Kurtz on vacations with young boys. They also found 68 pictures of Kurtz engaged in lewd conduct with the two boys and with many other children, Payne said. Most of the other children have never been identified.

Kurtz could be eligible for parole in 10 years, Payne said. After his prior child molestation convictions, Kurtz spent time in mental hospitals, according to court records.