February 6, 2012 20:28

Former drummer with Cake faces child abuse charge

Norah Jones' session drummer Peter McNeal will face trail for alleged molestation

Peter McNeal, who served as the drummer in Cake from 2001 to 2004, is facing charges of child molestation.

He was arrested in Los Angeles in January and released on $250,000 (£158,068) bail. Last week he appeared in court to hear the charge of "oral copulation and sexual penetration of a child under the age of 10", reports Rolling Stone.

The Los Angeles Police Department have revealed that they suspect McNeal, who has worked as a session drummer for the likes of Norah Jones since leaving Cake, of previous incidents. They have urged the public to come forward and help locate other possible child victims.

McNeal was previously arrested on a charge of attempted molestation in 2009. He will be formerly read the charges for the new case on February 10, following which pretrial and trial dates will be set.

California rock band Cake formed in 1991 and released their sixth studio album, 'Showroom of Compassion', last year. They are best known in the UK for their 2001 single 'Short Skirt/Long Jacket'.