Journey Drummer Pleads Guilty To Domestic Abuse

Journey drummer Deen Castronovo has pleaded guilty to domestic abuse and consequently has been sentenced to four years probation. 

The musician who joined the US rock band in 1998, was arrested in June following an altercation at his home in Salem, Oregon. 

According to Blabbermouth, Castronovo pleaded guilty to two counts of assault in the forth degree constituting domestic violence, two counts of menacing constituting domestic violence, unlawful use of a weapon and coercion. 

He has been ordered by a Salem judge to undergo domestic violence and drug counseling and if he is to violate the terms of his sentence, he will face five years in prison.

It has also been revealed that during the arrest which took place on 14 June, the 51-year-old was first taken to hospital due to an overdose of methamphetamine.

After being released on bail just a day after the arrest, Castronovo reportedly called the victim 35 times and sent 122 text messages, despite being ordered by court to not have any contact with her.

Later that month he was arrested again and charged with five counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of first-degree rape, two counts of menacing, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of second-degree assault, one count of second-degree sex abuse, one count of coercion, one count of second-degree criminal mischief, and three counts of contempt of court.

During a bail hearing last July, Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gardiner said that Castronovo thew the victim into a wall 14 times and forced her to have sex with him.

Castronovo has not performed with Journey since his arrest and was replaced on the group's North America tour by Omar Hakim.