LIMESTONE COUNTY, Ala. — Alabama Shakes drummer Steven William “Steve” Johnson was arrested Wednesday on child abuse charges in Limestone County, Alabama, multiple media outlets reported.
Johnson faces charges of willful torture, willful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise willfully maltreating a child under the age of 18, The Associated Press reported.
No other details regarding the alleged abuse were provided, but the Limestone County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Rolling Stone that Johnson’s bail was set at $21,500 and he is set to be arraigned April 7.
According to Variety, Johnson pleaded guilty in March 2020 to violating a domestic violence protection order from his ex-wife and received a suspended sentence of one year in jail plus two years’ probation. Johnson’s ex-wife had accused the drummer of threatening, harassing, stalking and choking her following their 2018 divorce after three-and-a-half years of marriage, WHNT reported at the time of his September 2019 arrest.
The Grammy-winning Alabama Shakes formed in 2009, and earned nominations for best new artist and best rock performance for “Hold On” from their debut album, “Boys & Girls,” at the 2013 Grammy Awards. Two years later, the troupe took home three Grammy awards for rock song, alternative music album and rock performance from 2015′s “Sound & Color,” Variety reported.
The band has been on hiatus since 2018, but lead vocalist Brittany Howard, who is pursuing her solo career, won the 2021 Grammy for best rock song for “Stay High,” the outlet reported.
-- The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Cox Media Group
