Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers has cut ties with longtime drummer Joseph Seiders following his arrest on serious charges involving child exploitation in California. The 44-year-old musician is accused of recording young boys inside a bathroom at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Palm Desert, a city in the Coachella Valley.
According to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, authorities responded on April 7 to a report from an 11-year-old boy who alleged a man had recorded him while he was in the restroom. Two days later, a second incident was reported at the same location, leading to Seiders’ arrest. A subsequent search of his home uncovered evidence linking him to both cases. He now faces multiple charges, including possession of child sex abuse materials, child molestation, and invasion of privacy.
The Riverside County Public Defender’s Office has declined to comment on Seiders’ behalf, while investigators say they are looking into the possibility of additional victims.
The New Pornographers, formed in British Columbia and a staple in Canada’s indie music scene, expressed shock and devastation in an Instagram post. Seiders, who joined the group in 2014, has been immediately dismissed. “Everyone in the band is absolutely shocked, horrified and devastated by the news of the charges against Joe Seiders,” the post read.
The investigation is ongoing as the music community reels from the disturbing revelations.
Source: Swifteradio.com
