Musician Secretly Recorded Minors in Restroom, Held on $1M Bail: Sheriff [WATCH]

Joe Seiders, longtime drummer for the Canadian indie rock band The New Pornographers, was arrested earlier this month in California on multiple charges including possession of child pornography and recording minors in a public restroom.

Seiders, 44, was taken into custody on April 9 in Palm Desert following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

SICKENING: New Pornographers drummer Joe Seiders has been arrested on child pornography charges.

He was taken into custody in Palm Desert, CA, after allegedly recording a minor in a public restroom.

The band has since cut ties with him. According to The Guardian, Seiders’ bail… pic.twitter.com/vpqKuUBukv

— Rock Feed (@RockFeedNet) April 18, 2025

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Deputies responded to two separate incidents involving suspicious behavior at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Southern California.

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The first incident occurred on April 7, just before 4 p.m., when an 11-year-old child reported to deputies that a man had recorded him with a cellphone while he was using the restroom.

Two days later, on April 9, an employee at the same restaurant contacted authorities after observing a man entering and exiting the restroom multiple times with minors.

According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, detectives obtained and served search warrants and identified Seiders as the suspect linked to both incidents.

The statement read, “Evidence was located implicating him in the two reported incidents, along with additional crimes, including possessing child pornography.”

Seiders was booked into the John Benoit Detention Center in Indio and is currently being held on $1 million bail.

He faces multiple felony charges, including possession of child pornography, annoying or molesting a child, invasion of privacy, and attempted invasion of privacy.

He is scheduled to appear in court for a felony settlement conference on Tuesday, April 22.

Authorities confirmed that the investigation remains active, and the Sheriff’s Office stated there “may be additional victims.” Investigators are continuing to examine evidence gathered during the search.

In response to the arrest, The New Pornographers issued a public statement on Instagram announcing they had severed ties with Seiders.

“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 band wrote.

“Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.”

Seiders joined The New Pornographers in 2014 following the departure of the band’s longtime drummer Kurt Dahle.

He contributed to the group’s three most recent studio albums and regularly toured with the band.

The New Pornographers, formed in 1997, have included several notable musicians over the years.

Current members include Neko Case, Carl Newman, John Collins, Todd Fancey, and Kathryn Calder.

Former members include Destroyer frontman Dan Bejar and Grammy-nominated drummer Kurt Dahle.

The band has performed at major festivals such as Coachella, appearing in both 2007 and 2011.

As the investigation continues, the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information related to the case or additional victims to come forward.

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