Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Journey drummer Deen Castronovo jailed on rape charge



Journey drummer Deen Castronovo was arrested and jailed without bail on Monday in Salem, Oregon after being charged with rape and additional items as part of an alleged domestic dispute incident on June 14.

The Statesman Journal reports Castronovo was arrested on a grand jury indictment on Monday in Salem with an upgraded list of charges that now includes 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.

Castronovo was originally charged with fourth-degree assault, coercion and menacing in the early morning incident.

The drummer was arraigned in court on Tuesday while wearing a suicide smock and held without bail after Marion County Circuit Judge Audrey Broyles said he was a threat to the victim; the alleged abuse took place between April 25, 2015, and June 29, 2015.

According to Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gardiner, Castronovo sent 122 text messages to the victim and called her 35 times since his release on June 15.

"The texts ranged from threats to kill himself, that she hates him, that he hates her," said Gardiner. "They were sorrowful and vengeful — several also said he wanted to see her suffer for what 'she has done,' to him."

Gardiner said if bail was set he would violate his release agreement again.

"He will disregard the court order," she stated. "His continued threats and contact presents a risk to be released."

It’s the second domestic violence incident involving Castronovo in recent years: he was also arrested in Oregon in 2012 for allegedly assaulting his girlfriend.

The first incident saw the drummer charged with several crimes, including fourth-degree assault, resisting arrest, interfering with a police report and coercion.

Castronovo received a sentence of 80 hours of community service and was ordered to attend anger-management classes in the 2012 incident.

Journey hired drummer Omar Hakim for their summer tour of North America following Castronovo’s latest legal issues; he made his debut at the group’s Hollywood Bowl show on June 20.


See also:

Neal Schon to open Canadian tour for Journey
VIDEO: Journey debut new touring drummer at the Hollywood Bowl
Journey hire drummer following Deen Castronovo’s arrest
Journey drummer charged with domestic violence
Search Journey at hennemusic