YouTube star Steven Fernandez arrested for sexually exploiting 12-year-old girl

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YouTube star, 15, and his manager arrested after allegedly sexually exploiting 12-year-old girl in exchange for introducing her to celebrities
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Skateboarder Steven Fernandez was arrested by the LAPD on Wednesday
The teenager allegedly used his celebrity status to lure girls off the street
Allegedly promised to introduce one to celebrities in exchange for sex acts
The underage girl reportedly agreed and a sexual act was performed
Teenager's manager Jose Barajas and Keelan Dadd were also arrested
Police called Fernandez the 'prime mover' in the plot and are seeking other possible victims

Published: 11:15 EST, 17 December 2015 | Updated: 15:20 EST, 17 December 2015

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A 15-year-old YouTube star has been arrested after allegedly sexually exploiting an underage girl.

Steven Fernandez, a skateboarder and social media star, allegedly promised the 12-year-old he would introduce her to celebrities in exchange for sexual acts.

The girl, who Fernandez, of Compton, California, met recently, agreed and a sex act was performed, TMZ reported.

Police said Fernandez was the 'prime mover' in the conspiracy to lure young girls off the street.

His manager Jose Barajas, 22, and Keelan Dadd, a 27-year-old skateboarder, were also arrested.

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YouTube star Steven Fernandez (pictured) has been arrested for allegedly sexually exploitating an underage girl

Police officers also arrested Fernandez’s manager Jose Barajas (left), 22, and Keelan Dadd (right)

They were all booked on charges of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 - a felony punishable by up to eight years in prison.

Barajas’ bail was set at $475,000 and Dadd’s at $200,000. Both men have bailed out.

Fernandez, as a minor, was released to his mother and ordered to wear an ankle tracker, pending his court appearance.

Police said he used his celebrity status to have the victim enter his car on Ventura Boulevard on November 13. The vehicle was being driven by Barajas at the time.

Fernandez then allegedly promised to introduce her to famous faces and appear on his fake MTV show if she would commit sex acts with the three of them.

According to TMZ, the LAPD began to investigate after the victim told police that Fernandez had lured her into a car.

Fernandez and Barajas were arrested November 17 as part of a sting by detectives who posed as the 12-year-old victim and arranged via text message to meet at an abandoned home for sex.

Dadd turned himself in to detectives on December 3.

Fernandez (pictured) reportedly used his celebrity status to have the victim enter his car on November 13

Fernandez allegedly promised the girl he would introduce her to celebrities in exchange for sexual acts

In a news release on Thursday, police called Fernandez the 'prime mover' in the plot to exploit young girls and officers are seeking other possible victims.

Detective Ninette Toosbuy, of the West Valley Detective Division, said: 'Yes, it’s unusual that we would release the name and photo of an arrested minor.

'But State law provides for such exceptions in cases where the perpetrator sexually targeted minors.'

She added that investigators found the trio tended to scour the West San Fernando Valley, Hollywood and Compton areas to find young girls to solicit.

'Fernandez and his buddies used his fame and brand to sexually exploit the very girls who made them rich and famous.

'We’re taking exceptional measures to find additional victims because the fate of some young lives may be at stake.'

She added: 'We want parents to look at the names and pictures of the defendants and ask their daughters if there’s been any contact.'

Fernandez’s social media following has risen considerably since he joined YouTube in 2012.

He now has more than 700,000 subscribers to his channel, where he posts primarily skateboarding and prank videos, as well as a million followers on Instagram.

Anyone with information on this crime is urged to call Det. Ninette Toosbuy, West Valley Detectives, on (818) 374-7718 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 800-222-8477.