THE drummer for popular Indie rock band The New Pornographers has been charged with possessing child porn.
Joseph Seiders’ was arrested for allegedly filming young boys in a Chick-fil-A bathroom – as his horrified band mates say they are “absolutely shocked, horrified and devastated”.
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Seiders was detained in Southern California on charges of possession of child sexual abuse imagery and other twisted offences, authorities said.
The 44-year-old was caught after a fast-food employee phoned cops to report Seiders for allegedly going in and out of the restaurant’s restroom with underage children.
Two days earlier, an 11-year-old boy also reported a man for recording him on his cellphone as he used the toilet at the same Chick-fil-A, according to Riverside County Sheriff’s Office.
Police then found evidence which linked Seiders to the two incidents as he was taken into custody.
On April 9, search warrants were issued for his home, car and cellphone, police said.
After scouring through his possessions, police charged the drummer with possession of child sex abuse materials, molesting a child, and invasion of privacy, the sheriff’s department confirmed.
Seiders is still behind bars with his bail set at $1 million.
He is due in court on April 22, according to jail records.
The Riverside County Public Defender’s Office have declined to comment on Seiders’ behalf.
Authorities believe there may be more victims in his case and are still investigating.
The news came as a shock to everyone in California and the world of music – especially Seiders’ band mates.
A spokesman for the New Pornographers said in a statement: “Everyone in the band is absolutely shocked, horrified and devastated by the news of the charges against Joe Seiders – and we have immediately severed all ties with him.
“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.”
The spokesman added that Seiders’ arrest is not set to disrupt any plans the group have going forwards.
Seiders joined the New Pornographers in 2014 as the latest addition to the long-running rock group.
The Canadian band have been around since 1997 and dropped their first album in 2000 titled Mass Romantic.
Their most popular song is widely regarded a the 2007 hit Challengers.
Three founding members are still a part of the top group including guitarist Carl Newman, bass player John Collins and Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Neko Case.
Seiders officially joined just after the band dropped their sixth album, Brill Bruisers.
The album was their highest charting to date in the US – peaking at number 13 on the Billboard 200.
Seiders has been a part of three other projects since including Whiteout Connections, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights and Continue as a Guest.
Seiders’ final song as part of the group was Ballad of the Last Payphone which was only released on April 2.
Child abuse helplines
IN the US, if you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call or text the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 800 422 4453 or live chat at https://www.childhelphotline.org/.
If a child or other person is in immediate danger, contact 911 immediately.
In the UK, for any emergency situation call 999.
Or contact the NSPCC who offer support to children who call 0800 1111.
Any adults concerned about a child can also ring 0808 800 5000.
Elsewhere, the National Association for People Abused in Childhood offers support for adult survivors on 0808 801 0331.
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