Former New Found Glory Member Issues Statement After Child Sex Offence Charges Trial

Former New Found Glory guitarist Steve Klein has issued a statement following his conviction in an ongoing child sex offence case. 

Klein was originally charged with a number of felonies including 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 back in 2014 upon his return to the US from the Australian Warped Tour circuit. 

He was subsequently fired from the band. 

Following years of rescheduling, the case officially went to trial in February with The San Luis Obispo Tribune reporting last week that Klein had been convicted of felony indecent exposure. It's reported that Klein agreed to plead no contest to the charge, with all remaining charges dismissed. 

Klein will serve no jail time for the conviction and will serve a two year formal probation period, with his attorney Ilan Funke-Bilu saying "that if his client successfully complies with the terms of his probation for one year, his felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanor and his probation terminated". 

Klein has now issued a statement about the case, as reported by Metal Sucks.

"On the advice of my attorney, my family, and my friends, I have reluctantly pleaded to one felony charge of indecent exposure in order to end this horrible chapter of my life. This charge is what’s known as a 'wobbler,' meaning it will subsequently be downgraded to a misdemeanor after one year of probation is completed. Additionally, as part of this plea, I must register as a tier one sex offender. Under SB 384 in the State of California, tier one sex registry is for the lowest level sex offenses, including misdemeanor indecent exposure. In accordance with the law, I will temporarily be a registered sex offender, but I will not be listed under Megan’s Law and will not have any significant restrictions placed on me."

Klein added: "Because this case has been ongoing, I have been unable to discuss the facts nor defend myself to the public beyond my initial statement made in 2014. I have had to remain silent as people made their own assumptions and judgments, while journalists released sensationalized stories lacking real insight. My silence only allowed the perpetuation of false information."

Klein goes on to detail the incidents where he believes the charges stemmed from saying, "While away on tour I began using the website Omegle to have online sex with random, anonymous women who I believed were all over the age of 18." 

Read the full statement here.