Mayor's defense calls strip-poker charges politically motivated

Agents storm a camp in Northern California in August 2016. But they're not looking for America's most wanted. They have their sights on another target: The mayor of Stockton, California, Anthony Silva.

Cops say a bizarre audio he secretly recorded on his phone of teens playing strip poker put Mayor Silva in handcuffs.

Silva is accused of giving alcohol to minors and using his phone to record the salacious poker game with some underage kids. FBI agents confiscated audio recording from Silva's phone.

An ongoing federal investigation into the mayor on other misconduct accusations is what led to the phone tape discovery after his electronic devices were seized.

Cops say it all took place at a weeklong summer camp Silva runs for underprivileged kids -- the same place where he was arrested.

Is he a monster? Or, as he says on his own website, just "a little rough around the edges"?

Silva posted $20,000 bail and went right back to work at City Hall.

"I am innocent of these charges," said Silva.

The actual recording is not in dispute. The circumstances are. Prosecutors say there was a 16-year-old boy playing the poker game.

Silva's lawyers say that Silva just walked in on a group of 18-year-old counselors playing a game and accidently hit record on his phone. The lens was facing down, so only audio was captured.

"The timing is extremely suspicious," said Silva. Silva's referring to his current bid for reelection. His attorney insists the scandal is politically motivated, and has filed to have all charges dismissed.

So sure are they of Silva's innocence, Silva's defense goes public with the full recording of the incident. Also released were some photos of the night in question. They show a game of beer pong and seem to indicate there were other adults around.

This is not the first time the mayor's been in hot water. More than 10 years ago, when he was coaching water polo he was accused of secretly taping girls changing in the restroom. Later, he was accused of sexually assaulting his housekeeper. She claimed he insisted she drink alcohol while cleaning and repeatedly grabbed her buttocks. No charges were filed in either instance.

But trouble seems to follow Silva: A Beretta pistol was stolen from his home while he was away last year. It was later used in a fatal shooting of a 13-year-old boy. It was the first of two firearms stolen from Silva. The pistol was also used in two other crimes, including a drive-by shooting.

He faces one felony and three misdemeanors in the current case: recording confidential communications; contributing to the delinquency of a minor; furnishing alcohol to someone under 21; cruelty to a child by endangering health.