Central Coast pop-punk rocker arrested for child sex offences

March 23, 2014

An Atascadero man, who is a former member of the pop-punk band New Found Glory, has been charged with seven felonies regarding his alleged contact with 14 and 15-year-old children he contacted online. [AlternativePress]

On the same day in December his band mates asked him to leave New Found Glory, the San Luis Obispo County District Attorney’s Office charged Steve Klein, 34, with two counts of lewd conduct with a minor under the age of 14, three counts of lewd conduct with a minor 14 or 15, one count of intent to commit lewd act with a minor, and one count of possession of child pornography. He is scheduled for preliminary hearing on April 10.

Klein was arrested after his ex-wife told authorities she discovered evidence of Klein’s illicit online activity. Klein plead not guilty.

In a statement to the Alternative Press, Klien’s attorney Debra White noted that her client wasn’t accused of any actual physical contact with a minor.

“Steve is devastated by these accusations,” White wrote. “He has lost his band, and his ex-wife continues to push for full custody of his children using this case as her pawn while he literally fights for his life.”