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Report: Former Owl City guitarist charged with ‘criminal sexual contact’ with 14-year-old


A former touring guitarist of Minnesota electronic pop project Owl City has been charged with “criminal sexual conduct” while on tour with the band in 2013. Thirty-year-old Daniel Jorgensen, of Minneapolis, has been indicted on charges he attempted to lure a 14-year-old fan back to his hotel room and tour bus for sex while the band was in Atlantic City, New Jersey, for a show.

Here’s more from the Associated Press, via the Star Tribune:

MAYS LANDING, N.J. — A former backing musician for electronica act Owl City has been charged with criminal sexual contact and attempting to lure a 14-year-old girl to his hotel room while they were playing in Atlantic City in 2013.

Thirty-year-old Daniel Jorgensen, of Minneapolis, was indicted Tuesday by a grand jury in Atlantic County, New Jersey. Authorities say he committed criminal sexual contact on the beach and then tried to lure the girl to his hotel room and the band’s tour bus to have sex.

Bail was set at $100,000. It wasn’t immediately clear if he had an attorney. The second-degree attempted luring charge carries a potential penalty of five to 10 years in prison.

According to reports, Jorgensen was allegedly fired from Owl City sometime in 2013 after the Atlantic City incident. Philly.com has more on Jorgensen, who allegedly has been accused of this type of behavior in the past:

Jorgensen, often featured in Instagram photos with young female fans, has been the target of these allegations by fans in other cities. One fan posted in late 2013 about extended contact and flirtations with Jorgensen that culminated with an incident in Atlantic City. In the post, the fan warns others to “stay away from him,” and details her trauma from the extended encounter. She writes that she ultimately realized this was a “legal situation” considered “sexual misconduct with a minor.” Authorities did not say if this was what led to this week’s indictment.

The AP and Philly.com add that reps for Owl City did not respond to inquiries seeking comment. Owl City, without Jorgensen, play the Paradise Rock Club on October 12.