(Getty Images)

Remember the crazy Elmo in Times Square? The one who was busted for his anti-Semitic diatribes? Well, he’s back, and this time his beef is with the Girl Scouts.

Dan Sandler, 49, was indicted yesterday for trying to extort $2 million from the organization, along with harassing and stalking a Girl Scout employee with “threatening” and “bizarre” emails and phone messages.

Mr. Sandler attempted to blackmail the organization into pumping his bank account, threatening to publicize false allegations if it didn’t comply, Manhattan District Attorney Vance wrote in a press release.

Among his false claims? That the Girl Scouts frequently arranged “sexual encounters” between adult men and underage girls at scout camp.

“I did the same thing to Pfizer as the Girl Scouts but they never made a complaint about it they just gave me a lot of money,” he allegedly told an officer who arrested him on Tuesday. "I should have gone to law school."

According to court documents, the Girl Scouts hired Mr. Sandler back in 2007 through a temp agency, but long after his work ended in 2008, he sent emails to his supervisor expressing his “infatuation” for her. Additionally, he threatened to publicize a false claim that the she had hired him and allowed him to interact with underage girls, even in the knowledge that he had “operated a pornographic website” while living in Cambodia.

Mr. Sandler, who has been living in his car, pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted grand larceny in the first degree, aggravated harassment in the second degree, and stalking in the third degree. His lawyer, Lawrence Gerzog attempted to secure his release on grounds of insanity.

"This case is a case involving, obviously, mental health issues," Mr. Gerzog said to the Daily News.

But Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Robert Stolz was not impressed, locking bail at $200,000. Mr. Sandler’s court date is set for June 13.

Elmo and Jon Hamm make art. (PBS)

Though when you think about it, the implications of Mr. Hamm's famous genitalia being so close to Elmo--who until recently, was voiced by Kevin Clash--are somewhat disturbing. Best not to think about it too hard.

...That's what she said. (Dammit!)

Kevin Clash and Elmo (Bill Thompson, Wikipedia)

Update: 12/11/12 4:47 p.m. So Kevin Clash has not only lost his job at Sesame Street, facing four underage sexual molestation charges, but now on top of that is being accused of having a limp dick by the latest alleged victim.

The accuser, now a 33-year-old man, ran away from his family in Miami when he was 16 to live with Clash. He revealed in his lawsuit (obtained in part by The New York Post), that "Kevin Clash told [his accuser] he had difficulty...due to a medical condition." It's like this Clash's life cannot get any worse at this point. Except:

"Herman said that because Clash is alleged to have transported his accuser across state lines for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity, he could face criminal charges."

Okay, now it can't get any worse. Right??

Update 11/20/12 4 p.m. Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, has resigned from his role on Sesame Street after a second young man stepped forward to accuse the Academy Award-nominated documentary subject of being a sexual predator. 24-year-old Cecil Singleton is asking for $5 million from Mr. Clash, after claiming he met the voice actor on a phone sex line when he was 15. Then he made a pretty large leap in logic, claiming that Clash spent his days at Sesame “preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests.”

Update 11/13/12 6:20 p.m.: The 23-year-old accuser just recanted his statement. Read below for more details.

Yeah, this is just pretty awful, especially because of all the absolutely terrible, not appropriate jokes and off-color puns that immediately pop into one's head when reading a headline about how the man who played the voice of Elmo for 28 years on Sesame Street left the show over allegations that he molested a little teenage boy. Try not to think about them, okay? It will just make you feel worse.

From TMZ.com:

Kevin Clash -- the man known as the voice of Elmo -- has taken a leave of absence from Sesame Street in the wake of allegations he had a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old boy, TMZ has learned ... allegations Clash adamantly denies.

We've learned ... Sesame Workshop lawyers recently met with a 23-year-old man who claims he and Clash began a sexual relationship 7 years ago ... when he was 16 and Clash was 45.

Clash has acknowledged to TMZ he had a relationship with the young man -- but insists it only took place AFTER the accuser was an adult...

Sources with direct knowledge of the situation tell TMZ ... after the accuser's initial meeting with Sesame Street, the accuser felt Sesame Workshop's lawyers were trying to muzzle him ... so he lawyered up with Andreozzi and Associates -- the firm that represented one of the victims in the Jerry Sandusky child rape case.

So, you know, that's a shitty thing to start your Monday news with. Sorry, folks.

Update: The New York Times learned an hour ago that the young man who accused Mr. Clash of having a sexual relationship with him while he was underage has recanted his previous statement:

Andreozzi & Associates, a law firm that said it represented the accuser said in a statement that “he wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.” The statement added, “He will have no further comment on the matter.”

So maybe the voice of Elmo is just homosexual, and not a child molester. Still, we feel we all lost a lot of innocence in the past two days, and it's yet to be seen whether Mr. Clash will be allowed back on Sesame Street after this scandal.

Kevin Clash resigns. (PBS)

– Kevin Clash, the voice of Elmo, has resigned from his role on Sesame Street after a second young man stepped forward to accuse the Academy Award-nominated documentary subject of being a sexual predator. 24-year-old Cecil Singleton is asking for $5 million from Mr. Clash, after claiming he met the voice actor on a phone sex line when he was 15. Then he made a pretty large leap in logic, claiming that Clash spent his days at Sesame "preying on teenage boys to satisfy his depraved sexual interests."

– So in addition to bringing new chapters of Trapped in the Closet to IFC, R. Kelly is now bringing his hip-hopera to the Great White Way. Hey, it can't be any worse than Ghost: The Musical.

– Finally, Anne Hathaway (sort of) fesses up that her co-hosting of 2011s Academy Awards was a shitshow. "I came off as slightly manic," she admits.

Now we can forgive her and move on to buying our advance tickets to Les Mis.

– Wayne Brady went all nutty on Reddit's AMA today. But at this point, second-rate celebrities going on Reddit is akin to them guest-starring on Parks and Recreation. Sorry, the heads of our country have already gone there, Wayne Brady! What will you contribute?

The New York Times quotes a statement from the Sesame Workshop, which produces the PBS series:

"...none of us, especially Kevin, want anything to divert our attention from our focus on serving as a leading educational organization. Unfortunately, the controversy surrounding Kevin’s personal life has become a distraction that none of us want, and he has concluded that he can no longer be effective in his job and has resigned from Sesame Street."

Mr. Clash was accused of a past relationship with a minor last week by a now 24-year-old man, who later recanted; TMZ reported that the accuser later attempted to go back on his recantation, offering to pay back his cash settlement in order to allege an inappropriate relationship with Mr. Clash once more.

"This is a sad day for Sesame Street," wrote the Sesame Workshop in its statement.

Sheldon Stephens (The Smoking Gun)

"Stephens agrees that immediately upon execution of this Agreement, his counsel, Andreozzi & Associates, P.C., shall release the [following] statement ... 'He [Stephens] wants it to be known that his sexual relationship with Mr. Clash was an adult consensual relationship.'"

We've learned Stephens has met with lawyers in Los Angeles and told them he was pressured into recanting his allegation and insists he's telling the truth when he says he had sex with Clash when he was 16.

Stephens -- who is now 23 -- is telling lawyers he will gladly forfeit the $125,000 to restore his name. Stephens is saying he was literally crying during the final negotiations and repeatedly said he didn't want to sign.

This probably has nothing to do with the fact that as soon as he backtracked on his original story and his name was leaked to the press, The Smoking Gun discovered that the "aspiring model" had some dirty secrets all his own, including robbing his former employer at knifepoint for $250,000 in jewelry.

Kevin Clash (Getty Images)

"I'm sorry that I keep talking about sex with you, its driving me insane."

"I want you to know that I love you and I will never hurt you. I'm here to protect you and make sure your dreams come true."

"I'll have my assistant book a ticket for you to come to NY and we can talk about this in person."

Mr. Clash released an official statement on the allegations:

"I am a gay man. I have never been ashamed of this or tried to hide it, but felt it was a personal and private matter. I had a relationship with the accuser. It was between two consenting adults and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to characterize it as something other than what it was. I am taking a break from Sesame Workshop to deal with this false and defamatory allegation."

Sesame Street Workshop also issued the following release:

"In June, the workshop heard from a 23-year-old man who claimed that he had "a relationship" with Clash beginning when he was 16 years old, the workshop said in a written statement. "We took the allegation very seriously and took immediate action. We met with the accuser twice and had repeated communications with him. We met with Kevin, who denied the accusation. We also conducted a thorough investigation and found the allegation of underage conduct to be unsubstantiated. Although this was a personal relationship unrelated to the workplace, our investigation did reveal that Kevin exercised poor judgment and violated company policy regarding internet usage and he was disciplined," the Sesame Street Workshop statement said.

"Kevin insists that the allegation of underage conduct is false and defamatory and he is taking actions to protect his reputation. We have granted him a leave of absence to do so.

"Elmo is bigger than any one person and will continue to be an integral part of Sesame Street to engage, educate and inspire children around the world, as it has for 40 years."

We still don't know just how deep inside the fuzzy red muppet this story goes. We do know that this is certainly not the first whiff of scandal in children's entertainment.

Here's a handful of other scandals that range from darkly funny to frankly terrifying.

Elmo. (Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)

It may be a “Sunny day (where) everything’s A-Ok” on Sesame Street but New York City apparently draws a slightly tougher crowd.

On Sunday afternoon, police officials escorted childhood icon Elmo (or, rather, an Elmo impersonator) out of Central Park on a stretcher headed for psychological evaluation at Metropolitan Hospital Center, the Times reported. Although we would normally expect a chorus of sobs from the children witnessing such a site, this Elmo had ruffled enough feathers with his anti-semetic and xenophobic jabs that bystanders were more than willing to say ‘good riddance!’

On Tuesday afternoon, according to The Times, the man in the suit, who calls himself Adam Sandler (perhaps alluding to his self-acclaimed 'comedic' talents), returned to his post in the park after being released from psychological evaluation earlier that morning.

"I'm sort of sneaking back in," he told The Times.

He additionally informed them of his background, recounting his creation of a pornographic site called "Welcome to Rape Camp" in Cambodia, resulting in his deportation from the country in 1999.

He told The Times that upon arrival to the US, he purchased an Elmo costume online with hopes of joining the forces of character impersonators that color Times Square day in and day out. These impersonators are unaffiliated with the Sesame Street Workshop, the producers of "Sesame Street," said in a statement.

Several YouTube videos documenting Elmo’s less than subtle rants were released on Monday, appalling many: “If you start your own business in this city, Jews will harass you!” he exclaimed in one.

As Elmo shouted, “I work for John Gotti,” (followed by a chain of profanities) in a tunnel near the Central Park Zoo, a clown donning a white coat, decorated with red hearts stepped out of his own friendly role to chastise his ‘fellow’ impersonator.

“What’s your problem … do I look like I’m playing with you, Elmo?” said the clown in a Blockbuster-style confrontation.

Now, obviously the angry shouts of Elmo and a clown echoing through a Central Park tunnel are bound to attract laughter – and that they did.

“Elmos around New York say they recognized the man from previous clashes,” reported The Times. They also reported that he would discourage people from taking photos with other costumed characters because they were ‘illegal immigrants.’

While the Elmos of Times Square would often steer clear of this specific impersonator while he roamed the streets, many impersonators declined to comment today when asked how they felt about the troublemaker being removed once and for all. Many of them responded, “I don’t speak English,” while continually pointing to their tip bags hanging around their necks. Others just shook their heads when asked for an opinion; one man in a Buzz Lightyear costume on 44^th and 7^th seemed especially upset, echoing a chorus of repeated “No’s” as he walked away.

This is not the first character impersonator infraction the news has seen: the LA Times reported on violent characters (specifically a pedestrian-slugging SpiderMan and a head-butting Chewbacca) in front of Grauman’s Chinese Theater near Hollywood Boulevard in 2009 and 2007 respectively.

Whatever the case, the Elmos of New York can now walk a little easier. One thing’s certain: NY tourists will take heed next time they ask, “how to get to Sesame Street.”

• You knew this day was coming. Bedbugs at Carnegie Hall. Insert obligatory "practice" joke.

• Columbia Business School students apparently have issues with personal hygiene. Bunch a hippies. No jobs left for those of you who don't get "professional haircuts."

• What if Obama made avant garde web videos?

• RIP Paul the Sooth-Sliming Octopus. You will be missed. You were kind of like Punxatawney Phil, only with more legs. Underwater. And squishy.

• Things you need: solid gold Monopoly set! See what they did there? A game...about acquiring wealth...made out of gold...So Meta!

• You know that creepy Elmo dude in Times Square? Yeah, he's officially creepy. Proof exists. Whither sad panda?