CONTENT WARNING: This article discusses child abuse and assault
Alabama Shakes drummer and founding member Steven William Johnson was arrested last week on multiple child abuse charges.
Johnson was arrested last Wednesday, 24th March in Limestone County, Alabama, after being indicted on charges of “willful torture, willful abuse, and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18,” the Associated Press reports. Johnson’s arraignment is currently set for next Wednesday, 7th April, with bail set at $US21,500.
In September 2019, the drummer was charged with violating a protection order. The protection order had been issued by a judge earlier that year after Johnson’s ex-wife accused him of threatening, harassing, choking and stalking her. In March of last year, Johnson plead guilty to the charge and received a suspended prison sentence of one year along with 24 months on probation.
Johnson was a founding member of Alabama Shakes back in 2009, and performed on the blues rock outfit’s 2012 album Boys & Girls along with its 2015 follow-up Sound & Color. In 2018, the group went on hiatus, frontwoman Brittany Howard pursuing a solo career with 2019 album Jaime.
If you need assistance, 1800 RESPECT – the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service — can be reached on 1800 737 732.
