Stripper Accused of Fondling Girls at Party

A male stripper accused of fondling at least four teenagers during his routine at a chaperoned “girls night out” party was arrested Thursday on felony lewd conduct charges.

Steven Schmitt, 29, of Walnut Creek, booked on a $100,000 warrant, faces three years in prison if convicted, Sgt. Ron Parker said.

The girls--including one who allegedly performed oral sex on him--apparently were willing participants in the strip act last month. But Alameda County prosecutors said they were pursuing charges because the teens are underage.

“His hands were on bare breasts, under bras, down pants,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Deborah Streicher. “If this was just stripping, I don’t know if we would have charged him. But he went beyond that.”

The mother of a 15-year-old who organized the party also faced a felony charge of exposing minors to lewd material. Her name was withheld to protect her daughter, one of the girls involved.

Both Schmitt and the mother are to be arraigned next week.

The mother told police Schmitt stripped down to a G-string in front of as many as 50 girls. At the end of the act, one girl paid Schmitt $20 to perform oral sex on him, police said.

Photos the girls took that night back the claims, police said.

“They gave us photos of girls putting their hands down his G-string,” Lt. Chris Dickinson said Thursday.

Partygoers told authorities the mother helped hire and pay for the stripper, although she said her daughter hired him without her knowledge. She said she only let him continue his act to avoid embarrassing her daughter, Streicher said.

Schmitt reportedly told police he did not know the girls were underage.

Angry parents who learned of the affair called school officials and police after their daughters told them of the night’s events, authorities said.

The party, billed as “Girls Night Out” on leaflets distributed at Amador Valley High, charged $3 to $5 for admission.