San Mateo Man Faces Life in Prison After Admitting to Sex with Minor

A 63-year-old San Mateo resident may spend life in prison after pleading no contest Tuesday to a sex crime against a small child, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office.

Steven Hurd pleaded no contest to felony sexual acts with a child 10 years old or younger on the second day of a jury trial, resolving the case before jurors were chosen, prosecutors said.

The investigation began in early January 2009 when an undercover San Mateo police officer called Hurd’s massage business near the Hillsdale Shopping Center to make an appointment, prosecutors said.

The officer negotiated a price and set up a one-hour massage with Hurd, who directed her to meet him at his apartment, according to prosecutors.

Inside the apartment, the officer undressed and got on the massage table. During the massage, Hurd said “yummy” and “oh yeah,” prosecutors said.

Two times, Hurd massaged the side of the officer’s breast and three times took her hand and moved it across his erect penis, according to prosecutors.

Police then came to the door and arrested Hurd for sexual battery, prosecutors said.

Officers searching Hurd’s cellphone found several photos of him massaging other women, prosecutors said.

Another video on the phone showed a 2-year-old girl putting her mouth on Hurd’s penis three times. Hurd filmed the video himself and told the girl to do it “one more time,” prosecutors said.

Hurd admitted to the acts and admitted they were wrong, according to prosecutors.

Police also found six photos in his apartment of underage girls in sexual positions, prosecutors said.

Hurd will have to register as a sex offender for life, according to prosecutors. A judge will impose Hurd’s sentence Oct. 20, prosecutors said.

The attorney for Hurd, Paul Demeester, was not immediately available for comment.

--Bay City News Service, photo