A musician whose credits include a stint in the ’60s rock group The Lovin’ Spoonful has been arrested on 30 counts relating to child pornography, Arkansas attorney general Leslie Rutledge said Thursday.
Jerome Alan “Jerry” Yester of Harrison, Arkansas, was arrested on 30 counts of distributing, possessing or viewing matter depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child, a Class C felony.
Yester, 74, came under investigation after agents determined that someone using a computer at Yester’s address downloaded sexually explicit material involving children.
Yester’s file will be turned over to 14th Judicial District Prosecutor David Ethredge.
Yester formed a duo, the Yester Brothers, with his brother Jim Yester prior to joining the New Christy Minstrels and later, the Modern Folk Quartet.
He played piano on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1965 hit “Do You Believe in Magic,” later joining the group, replacing guitarist Zal Yanovsky.
Yester’s other credits as an artist and producer includes work with The Association, The Turtles and Tim Buckley.