Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins will be held in custody until a scheduled plea and case management hearing on March 11 after he was charged alleged child sex offenses, according to BBC News.
The 35-year-old Watkins appeared in Cardiff Crown Court on December 31 via video link from Parc Prison in Bridgend, Wales. Two other unnamed females, ages 20 and 24, who are also reportedly arrested as part of this case, were standing next to him. The three defendants only confirmed their names at the hearing.
The alleged offenses occurred between May 1 and December 17, 2012, and the charges span between a period of August 12 and December 17.
He is accused of conspiring to rape a one-year-old girl, and charged with two incidents of conspiring to engage in sexual touching with two young children and four offenses related to making, possessing and distribution of indecent images of children.
Defending barrister Tom Crowther previously stated that Watkins would be denying the charges.
The remaining members of Lostprophets – guitarists Lee Gaze and Mike Lewis, bassist Stuart Richardson, keyboardist Jamie Oliver and drummer Luke Johnson released a statement via their official website http://lostprophets.com/ about the charges.
“Following charges made today against Ian Watkins, we find ourselves in a state of shock. We are learning about the details of the investigation along with you. It is a difficult time for us and our families, and we want to thank our fans for their support as we seek answers. Jamie, Lee, Luke, Mike and Stu.”
The band formed in Pontypridd in 1997 and released their debut album Thefakesoundofprogress in 2000. They have sold over three million albums worldwide and their 2006 album Liberation Transmission topped the UK charts. Their most recent release Weapons came out April 2012.
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