Mac Saturn keyboardist arrested on child porn charges ahead of Detroit show (Updated)

Updated 1/26/24:

Mac Saturn have released an official statement on social media.

The band posted on X that the other members only learned of Mercer’s charges Friday and that he is no longer part of the group. Mac Saturn’s tour will proceed as scheduled.

pic.twitter.com/GwWNsfCN8L

— Mac Saturn (@MacSaturn) January 26, 2024

Original story appears below.

The keyboardist for Detroit band Mac Saturn has been arrested on child pornography charges — hours before the group’s headlining show at the Fillmore Detroit.

As The Detroit News reports, Evan Daniel Mercer, 30, of Farmington was jailed after a hearing at a federal court in Detroit on Friday. Charges include enticement of a minor and producing and/or attempting to produce child pornography. Mercer faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted, with 15 being the mandatory-minimum.

According to unsealed documents obtained by The Detroit News, the investigation took place over several months. Mercer is accused of exposing himself to minors on the website Omegle.

“Mercer advised the screenshots were of him on an anonymous website Omegle, masturbating with underage people,” an FBI agent wrote in the unsealed documents.

A statement has yet to be released from Mac Saturn’s representatives as of this writing. There is also no official word if Friday’s concert at the Fillmore will go on as scheduled.

 

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A post shared by Evan Mercer (@evan_damn_mercer)

Mercer’s ex-girlfriend notified Ferndale Police and the FBI after she discovered screenshots of the musician masturbating to children on her laptop, which was synced to Mercer’s cell phone.

Mercer began working with Mac Saturn around June 2022 according to an Instagram post.

Mac Saturn have been gaining buzz and released their debut album, Hard to Sell, on Friday. The Fillmore Detroit show is the first date of their 34-city headlining tour.