Phish's Mike Gordon Arrested

RollingStone.com ^ | August 18, 2003

[tdadams]

Phish's Mike Gordon Arrested

Bassist booked for child endangerment

Mike Gordon

Phish bassist Mike Gordon, 38, was arrested Monday, August 11th, on charges of child endangerment after he was found with a nine-year-old girl in a secluded boathouse during a show by the Dead in Jones Beach, New York.

According to a statement released by Major Richard O'Donnell of the New York State Park Police, Gordon was charged with a misdemeanor count of child endangerment and trespassing. "The arrest was the result of a complaint by the mother of a nine-year-old girl," reads the statement. "The mother became concerned when she could not locate her daughter in the backstage area."

The uninjured child was reunited with her family shortly after Gordon's arrest.

According to New York's WNBC television, Gordon told police that he was taking "art photos" of the girl.

The girl's father -- who, along with Gordon, was an invited guest backstage -- has been identified as a leader of a Hell's Angels chapter. Gordon is reported to have been held by venue security and members of the motorcycle club until police arrived, with WNBC adding that the Angels "were not gentle with the sensitive areas of the rock star's body."

A joint statement credited to Gordon and the girl's family and released Tuesday by Phish's label, Elektra Records, reads, "We have had several discussions regarding the situation that occurred at Jones Beach. It is now clear to all involved that this was an unfortunate misunderstanding, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us."

Gordon is due to appear in the First District Court of Nassau County on September 29th to face the charges, which could result in more than a year of jail time, according to Rick Hinshaw, spokesperson for the Nassau County District Attorney's office. Hinshaw said the DA's office could not yet comment on the specifics of the case.

Gordon's debut solo album, Inside In, is due August 26th on Rope a Dope Records.

[tdadams]

I think it's safe to assume, if you take a nine year old girl, who is the daughter of a Hell's Angels leader, to a secluded boathouse to take "art" photos of her, you're going to sustain some damage to a lot of sensitive body parts!

[tdadams]

Ping for your "just damn" list.

[ClearCase_guy]

"I was going to pay some guy to kick me in the nuts -- but he was going to charge me too much money, so I switched to Plan B ..."

[avg_freeper]

Gordon's debut solo album, Inside In,

“Inside In”, the current status of Gordo's genitalia.

[alisasny]

Just a little common sense....

Keep your eye on your 9 year old daughter at all times at a rock concert where adults probably outnumber youngesters 100-1. Just a thought. Not to mention that I wouldnt bring my kid to this type of concert.

Poor kid : ((((

[Huck]

Not to mention that I wouldnt bring my kid to this type of concert.

The kid's dad is a Hell's Angel. A Dead show is day care compared to their own shindigs.

[alisasny]

While the girl's parents opted not to press charges, police still slapped Gordon with one count of child endangerment, a charge that could land him up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine. From an article at EONLINE.

[lwd]

There's an early promo picture of phish with the band cross-dressed in sleezy female attire. The prosecution may want to use this photo. I will try to find it and post.

[mr.pink]

The guy's a predator and I'd be courious as to what shows up on his computer.

[mhking]

Just damn.

If you want on the new list, FReepmail me. This IS a high-volume PING list...

[FITZ]

That's the way child predators need to be dealt with.

[Eaker]

the Angels "were not gentle with the sensitive areas of the rock star's body."

Hells Angel butt kicking ping!

[sharktrager]

A prior story had a comment from someone who was familiar with the case and it seems the reporting is somewhat off.

They said the "secluded boathouse" was neither secluded nor a boathouse. On top of that, the photos were supposedly just pictures of the girl riding his Segway, which is something he had let othe people do earlier in the night.

The kid's mom freaked because she didn't know where her child was, and the Angels jumped to conclusions.

One thing that bothers me about FR is that so many people think the press is full of sensationalists and liars, until the story is about someone who's politics we don't like.

[Redwood71]

They don't want him in jail. They want him on the street.

[dfwgator]

The kid's dad is a Hell's Angel. A Dead show is day care compared to their own shindigs.

Maybe so, but at least Hell's Angels don't molest kids.

[alisasny]

I also find it bizarre that street justice is OK with some on this situation even when we dont know the facts.

[alisasny]

Are you sure the guy molested the child? I would say that is a huge leap from the story we know now.

[thackney]

That's the way child predators need to be dealt with.

If police arrest someone like this before the crowds can apply this appropriate punishment, I would like to see public stockades brought back for these crimes.

[Huck]

Maybe so, but at least Hell's Angels don't molest kids.

Well, for one thing, I wouldn't be so sure. Do they sell crank to kids? Are they involved in prostitution? Naaaaaah. Just a fun loving bunch of cyclists.

As for Gordon, supposedly the girl was fully clothed when found, and none of the pictures have been found to be inappropriate. Time will tell. But no, I wouldn't leave my child alone with a Hell's Angel.

[prarie earth]

The Hells Angels probably castrated the guy, and Im sure the police didnt mind.