Phish’s Mike Gordon was cleared of child endangerment charges this morning, more than a month after the bassist was found alone with a nine-year-old girl in a boathouse during a concert by the Dead at Jones Beach Amphitheater in Wantagh, New York.
“I am glad all the charges against me have been dismissed and I can put this misunderstanding behind me,” he said in a statement. “I am grateful for the support I’ve received from my friends and fans.”
After the August 11th incident Gordon, 38, claimed that he was taking art pictures of the girl.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s office concluded that police had probable cause to arrest Gordon but that the misdemeanor endangerment charges were not provable beyond a reasonable doubt. “Mr. Gordon appeared at the arraignment this morning and the case was dismissed,” spokesman Rick Hinshaw said. A violation charge of trespassing was also dismissed. The charges could have resulted in a year of jail time.
Following the incident, a joint statement credited to Gordon and the girl’s family was released by Phish’s label, Elektra Records. It read, “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.” An Elektra spokesperson could not confirm at the time whether a monetary settlement was reached between the parties.
