Riverside, California – American drummer Joe Seiders of the Canadian indie rock band the New Pornographers has been arrested on charges of possessing child sexual abuse imagery. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office stated that evidence connects Seiders to two incidents involving juvenile males. The first incident occurred on April 7 when an 11-year-old boy reported being filmed in a restaurant restroom. Two days later, authorities received another report of a man entering and exiting the restroom with young males.
Seiders was taken into custody at the scene, and search warrants were issued for his home, vehicle, and phone. The statement released by the sheriff’s office mentioned that evidence linking Seiders to the reported incidents and other crimes, including possession of child pornography, was found. He faces charges of annoying/molesting a child, invasion of privacy, and attempted invasion of privacy. Seiders is currently in jail with bail set at $1 million and is scheduled to appear in court on April 22.
The New Pornographers, known for their indie rock sound and led by AC Newman and Neko Case, released a statement expressing shock and devastation over the allegations against Seiders. The band announced that they have cut all ties with him in light of the charges. The group has been a prominent figure in North American indie music since their debut album in 2000, with chart-topping success in 2014 with the album “Brill Bruisers.”
Seiders, who joined the band as a drummer after the departure of Kurt Dahle, has also performed on their recent studio albums. Additionally, he has collaborated with artists like Neko Case, John Oates, Juliana Hatfield, and Gary Jules. Seiders previously played in the group Beat Club before joining the New Pornographers. Support resources for victims of child abuse and survivors of childhood trauma are available in various countries, including hotlines like 0800 1111 in the UK and 800-422-4453 in the US. Support organizations like the National Association for People Abused in Childhood (Napac) and the Blue Knot Foundation offer assistance to adult survivors as well.