Sheldon Stephens Photo: Named Elmo Puppeteer Kevin Clash Accuser, Struggling Model Retracts 'Underage' Sexual Relationship Claims

Reports confirm that struggling 24-year-old model and actor Sheldon Stephens (who also goes by the name Sheldon Xzavier) is the man who accused famous Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash of having inappropriate sexual relations with him when he was just 16-years-old (Clash having been in his 40s at the time). The Smoking Gun first ousted Stephens' identity this week and "confirmed his role in the Clash matter with two sources, a family member and a friend." Because of the accusations, Clash had to take a temporary leave of absence from the popular children's show "Sesame Street" in order to clear his name of the seedy charges. Stephens recently retracted his claims - his former lawyer released a public statement to the New York Times on Tuesday that read "the alleged victim wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with [Clash] was an adult consensual relationship." Even so, Clash can still sue Stephens for defamation, and it wouldn't be the young models first run-in with the law - he was arrested in 2009 for an alleged $250,000 jewelry robbery (charges were eventually dropped).

The Smoking Gun reports that Stephens, originally from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, interned at Blowback Productions in New York City (Sesame Street was filmed there from 2007-2009... Clash happens to live on Manhattan's West Side). A friend of Stephens insists that he tends to "attract these high-powered men," but that he is a "God-fearing guy" and "not just a pretty boy."

Stephens initially alleged that he had a sexual relationship with Clash when he was just 16. Clash told TMZ that "[the relationship] was between two consenting adults, and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not." Turns out Clash was probably telling the truth - Stephens now insists that he was 18 at the time the two began seeing each other. Even so, Stephens' false claims negatively impacted Clash's career and public image - he could be sued for defamation. (Read more on the story here).

And check this out, one of the "high-powered" men Stephens pursued was music manager Darian Pollard. Stephens was fired from his intern position with Pollard in 2009 after being accused of brandishing a knife and stealing a $250,000 "white gold necklace with diamonds" and a "white gold ring with diamond baguets." Stephens was arrested at the Harrisburg airport, where he was found "wearing the necklace and also the ring... He made no attempt to hide either article" (according to a police report).  Charges were eventually dropped.

Stephens also supposedly founded a management company called X Management - his profile states:

"Sheldon Xzavier: Formally educated at Harrisburg University of Science and technology majoring in Management. Sheldon has traveled the U.S as a High Profile Model, Hollywood stylist, Public Relation rep, and an Intern for multiple entertainment and production Agencies. Setting up shop in Los Angeles, Manhattan, Miami, Las Vegas and Central Pennsylvania establishing X management has been his Primary goal all while spearheading Local Celebrities to National Stars."

What do Mstarz readers think about the struggling young model being sued by Clash for defamation?