Alabama Shakes drummer Steve Johnson arrested on charges of child abuse

35-year-old Alabama Shakes drummer Steve Johnson has been arrested on child abuse charges in Limestone County, Alabama.

The drummer was taken into custody last Wednesday, and faces charges of wilful torture, wilful abuse and cruelly beating or otherwise wilfully maltreating a child under the age of 18, AP reports.

No other details regarding the alleged abuse have been provided.

The Limestone County Sheriff’s Office confirms that Johnson was arrested on March 24th and taken to Limestone County Jail with bail set at $21,500. Johnson is set to be arraigned on the charges on April 7th.

The Grammy Award-winning band has been on hiatus since 2018 when frontwoman Brittany Howard decided to pursue her solo career. The outfit have yet to comment on the charges against their drummer.

Johnson had previously been arrested in September 2019 for violating a protection order filed by his ex-wife, who accused the drummer of threatening, harassing, stalking and choking her following their 2018 divorce after three-and-a-half years of marriage.

Johnson pleaded guilty to the misdemeanour charge in March 2020, receiving a one-year suspended prison sentence and 24 months on probation.

Photo credit: Limestone County Sheriff Office