A homeless Orange County man who allegedly licked the feet of five boys after promising to cast them in a television commercial has been charged with lewd conduct, officials said Tuesday.
Steven Michael Jones, 43, will be arraigned in Newport Beach Friday, said Sheriff's Department spokesman Jim Amormino.
Jones, of San Clemente, was charged with five felony counts of lewd acts with a child and one misdemeanor of child annoyance, Amormino said. All the victims were under 14.
If convicted on all counts, Jones faces 16 years in prison.
Sheriff's deputies arrested Jones April 14 near the shore in San Clemente. Witnesses told authorities Jones was wearing a suit the day before when he approached three boys sitting on a bench, Amormino said.
"It's unusual for someone to wear a suit to the beach," Amormino said.
The boys had just come off the beach and were not wearing shoes. Jones allegedly promised them a part in a Johnson & Johnson television commercial, telling them he first needed to inspect their feet, Amormino said.
"He allegedly licked the bottom of one of the boys' feet. The other two boys ran away," Amormino said.
Jones allegedly used a similar ruse March 28 on four boys near Dana Point Library. He said he'd pay them $1,500 to appear in a commercial but first had to inspect their feet, Amormino said. Jones allegedly licked the feet of all four boys, Amormino said.
Jones was being held on $115,000 bail.
