Police said they arrested him after a sting operation conducted on Wednesday. Hersel used MySpace to contact his first victims, but police said it didn't take long for word to spread among local teens.
Hersel also allegedly asked teens to defecate and urinate on him, but police said teens would not do that.
Parents in Thousand Oaks are shocked by the news.
"You have to be open and honest with your kids, make them know, let them hear about this, talk to them about everything," said Kim Dipinto of Thousand Oaks.
"That's scary, people are sick out there," she said.
Hersel is only being charged with misdemeanor child annoyance because there was no actual sexual conduct, but he could be facing up to 15 counts. Deputies said if he is convicted, he could get prison time and will have to register as a sex offender.
Hersel was booked at Ventura County Jail and released on a promise to appear in court.
Deputies are continuing with their investigation with Hersel, and will take a close look at a computer found in his apartment. They're asking anyone with information to come forward.
