Clash of Elmo fame facing new sex suit

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HARRISBURG, Pa., March 19 (UPI) -- Kevin Clash, former voice of the Muppet Elmo, plied a teenage boy with drugs for sex, the alleged victim says in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Pennsylvania.

In his suit filed in the U.S. District Court's middle district of Pennsylvania, Sheldon Stephens, now 24, alleges beginning in about 2004 when he was 16 Clash would have a chauffeur pick him up at his Harrisburg, Pa., home and drive him to Clash's New York apartment for drugs and sex, the New York Daily News reported.

"A male chauffeur drove Clash and Sheldon to the chauffeur's apartment, where they had a crystal meth sex party," the suit states. "While in the apartment, Clash smoked crystal meth while engaging in sexual activity with Sheldon. Clash also gave Sheldon 'poppers' as a sexual aide. While Clash had sexual contact with Sheldon, the chaffer (sic) watched and masturbated."

Stephens alleges Clash told him he would help him with his acting career.

Stephens first went public about his alleged underage sexual relationship with Clash last November but changed his story to say he was 18 when the sex began after being promised a $125,000 settlement, the newspaper said. He filed the lawsuit, with its new revelations of drug use, after the agreement fell apart, the newspaper said.

Clash, a 52-year-old native of the Baltimore area, has denied the earlier allegations by Stephens and three other young men that they had underage sex with the award-winning puppeteer.

No criminal charges have been filed against Clash, who quit his job with Sesame Street after the allegations surfaced.

Michael G. Berger, Clash's attorney, said the latest suit was without merit, as were the others, The Baltimore Sun reported.

"Sheldon Stephens, the plaintiff, has already admitted in writing that he had 'an adult consensual relationship' with Mr. Clash," Berger said in a statement to the Sun. "Mr. Clash continues to deny any wrongdoing, and we intend to defend this case forcefully."

Berger asked a U.S. District Court judge for the Southern District of New York this month to throw out the three prior lawsuits, the newspaper said.