Tv, Sex With Minors | featured news

Getting in just under the wire before Thanksgiving day’s orgy of football viewing, “The Insider” will Wednesday night have the first interview with the first man who claimed former Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash had a sexual relationship with him when he was a minor.

The man who accused Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash of having sex with him when he was a teen now says it isn’t so. The man is now saying his sexual relationship with Clash was adult and consensual. In response to the statement Tuesday afternoon, Clash issued a statement of his own, saying he is “relieved that this painful allegation has been put to rest.”

The puppeteer who performs as Elmo on "Sesame Street" is taking a leave of absence from the popular kids' show following allegations that he had a relationship with a 16-year-old boy. Sesame Workshop says puppeteer Kevin Clash denies the charges, which were first made in June by the alleged partner, who by then was 23.

Blankinship has been charged with 10 counts of sex exploit of a minor, meaning he possessed photos and/or video of a minor engaged in sexual activity.

Shane Sparks is out of slick moves. The hip-hop choreographer who used to showcase his talents on So You Think You Can Dance pleaded no contest today to one felony count of unlawful intercourse with a minor under the age of 16 and was sentenced to 270 days in jail.