Rock drummer accused of recording boys in Chick-fil-A bathroom in Palm Desert
Joseph Seiders, the drummer for rock band The New Pornographers, was arrested recently in Palm Desert, accused of taking cell phone recordings of boys while they were in the bathroom of a Chick-fil-A.
Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department responded to a report of a "suspicious circumstance" at 3:55 p.m. on April 7 in the 73-000 block of Dinah Shore Drive in Palm Desert after an 11-year-old boy reported that an "unknown male adult recorded him on a cell phone while he was using the restroom," according to a press release from Sgt. Daniel Milbrandt.
Jail records indicate the location of the incident was at Chick-fil-A.
Two days later, at 5:01 p.m. on April 9, an employee at the same location reported a man repeatedly entering and exiting the restroom with juvenile males. Suspecting he was the same individual involved in the earlier incident, the employee contacted law enforcement. Upon arrival, deputies located and arrested Seiders, a 44-year-old resident of Palm Desert.
Deputies followed up with search warrants for Seiders' home, vehicle and cell phone — finding evidence that investigators said linked him to both reported incidents and other crimes, including possession of child pornography.
Seiders was booked April 9 into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio on suspicion of possession of child pornography, annoying/molesting a child, invasion of privacy and attempted invasion of privacy.
He remained in custody Friday at the Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning with a bail set at $1 million and is scheduled to appear in court at the Indio Larson Justice Center at 8:30 a.m. on April 22.
The New Pornographers released a statement on Instagram on Thursday night, following the news of Seiders' arrest.
"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," the statement read. "Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions."
Seiders joined the Canadian indie rock band after the release of their 2014 album "Brill Bruisers" — three years after the band performed at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio in 2011.
The investigation was ongoing, and sheriff's investigators said they believe there may be additional victims. They asked anyone with information to call Investigator Arnoldo Iñiguez at 760-836-1600 or sheriff's dispatch at 951-776-1099.
(This story has been updated to correct a date.)
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Musician recorded children in Chick-fil-A bathroom, sheriff says
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