In 2014, former New Found Glory guitarist Steve Klein was charged with counts of lewd conduct involving minors and possession of child pornography. Last week, he had the child pornography charges dropped when he pleaded guilty to indecent exposure. Now, he's shared his side of the story.
In a lengthy statement released to Lambgoat, Klein explained that he cheated on his wife by engaging in mutual sex acts on the video chat website Omegle. He goes into great detail explaining that the site requires users to be 18 years old, and he believed the anonymous strangers he was interacting with were of age.
Klein has been ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. In his statement, however, Klein insists that he did not plead guilty to child pornography. "For context, a person caught urinating on the street can be charged with indecent exposure and required to register as a sex offender," he said.
He went on to explain the details of the trial, claiming that his wife had submitted video recordings he made of the sexual encounters to police, who then consulted experts to determine that some of the girls in the recordings were underage. Klein maintains his innocence, believing that they were above the age of 18.
While Klein maintains his innocence regarding child pornography — of which the charges were officially dropped — he goes on to express his regrets. "I deeply regret the actions that led to this situation and I am sincerely apologetic to my friends and fans who have felt any disappointment in me over the past eight years," he said.
According to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, Klein's attorney Ilan Funke-Bilu said that he believes his client's felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanour if he complies with the terms of his probation for one year.
The full statement, which contains some disturbing details, can be read here.
In a lengthy statement released to Lambgoat, Klein explained that he cheated on his wife by engaging in mutual sex acts on the video chat website Omegle. He goes into great detail explaining that the site requires users to be 18 years old, and he believed the anonymous strangers he was interacting with were of age.
Klein has been ordered to register as a sex offender for 10 years. In his statement, however, Klein insists that he did not plead guilty to child pornography. "For context, a person caught urinating on the street can be charged with indecent exposure and required to register as a sex offender," he said.
He went on to explain the details of the trial, claiming that his wife had submitted video recordings he made of the sexual encounters to police, who then consulted experts to determine that some of the girls in the recordings were underage. Klein maintains his innocence, believing that they were above the age of 18.
While Klein maintains his innocence regarding child pornography — of which the charges were officially dropped — he goes on to express his regrets. "I deeply regret the actions that led to this situation and I am sincerely apologetic to my friends and fans who have felt any disappointment in me over the past eight years," he said.
According to the San Luis Obispo Tribune, Klein's attorney Ilan Funke-Bilu said that he believes his client's felony conviction will be reduced to a misdemeanour if he complies with the terms of his probation for one year.
The full statement, which contains some disturbing details, can be read here.
