Joe Seiders, drummer for the indie-rock band The New Pornographers, has been arrested and charged with possession of child pornography following multiple incidents that occurred in the bathroom of a restaurant in Palm Desert.
According to a press release from the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, deputies responded to a report on April 7 from an 11-year-old boy who said a man recorded him in the bathroom of a Palm Desert business. A second report came in two days later, involving a man seen entering the restroom with young boys. Deputies identified and arrested the suspect at the scene.
Investigators later searched the man’s home, car, and phone, uncovering evidence tied to both incidents and additional crimes. He was booked on charges including possession of child pornography, molestation, and invasion of privacy.
A spokesperson for The New Pornographers issued a statement Thursday night, saying the band is “shocked, horrified and devastated” by the charges. “We have immediately severed all ties with him,” the statement read. “Our hearts go out to everyone who has been impacted by his actions.”
Seider has been with the band since 2014, and has played on their albums Brill Bruisers, Whiteout Conditions, In the Morse Code of Brake Lights, and their most recent, Continue as a Guest from 2023. He also plays on their single from earlier this year, "Ballad of the Last Payphone".
Seiders is being held in a jail in Indio, California, with his bail set at $1 million. He is due in court on April 22.
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, we encourage you to reach out for support:
RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline
https://rainn.org
1 800 656 HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line
SMS: Text “HELLO” or “HOLA” to 741-741
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