Drummer Deen Castronovo arraigned on new charges in domestic incident

Drummer Deen Castronovo was arraigned Tuesday on several charges, including rape and sexual assault, in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident on June 14.

Castronovo, 50, appeared in a suicide smock at the Marion County Courthouse Annex where he was formally charged with five counts of fourth-degree assault, one count of first-degree rape, two counts of menacing, one count of unlawful use of a weapon, one count of second-degree assault, one count of second-degree sex abuse, one count of coercion, one count of second-degree criminal mischief, and three counts of contempt of court, according to the indictment.

Court documents indicate Castronovo, who is the drummer for the rock band Journey, was arrested on a grand jury indictment Monday in Salem. The indictment indicates the alleged abuse took place between April 25, 2015, and June 29, 2015.

Castronovo was initially arrested June 14 after police say he physically injured a woman. In that incident, according to court documents, he was arrested by Salem police officers following a dispute that was described as constituting domestic violence.

He was originally charged with fourth-degree assault and menacing. Marion County Circuit Judge Channing Bennett set bail at $20,000. Castronovo posted bail and was released. He also was ordered to have no contact with the victim.

But since his release June 15, According to Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Gardiner, Castronovo sent 122 text messages to the victim and called her 35 times.

"The texts ranged from threats to kill himself, that she hates him, that he hates her," Gardiner said. "They were sorrowful and vengeful — several also said he wanted to see her suffer for what 'she has done,' to him."

Gardiner told Circuit Judge Audrey Broyles that if bail were set Castronovo would violate his release agreement again.

"He will disregard the court order," Gardiner said. "His continued threats and contact presents a risk to be released."

Broyles agreed and ordered that no bail be set.

Following the June 14 arrest, Castronovo was dropped from a number of Journey's summer concert dates. According to the band's Facebook page, Omar Hakim was to fill in for Castronovo June 20 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, July 4 at the Stadium of Fire in Provo, Utah, and on a tour of Canada July 6 through Aug. 6.

This was not the first time Castronovo, who now lives in South Salem, has faced domestic issues.

Following a January 2012 incident at his home in West Salem, he was charged with reckless endangerment, interfering with making a police report, second-degree criminal mischief and harassment involving a woman who identified herself as Castronovo's ex-girlfriend, according to police.

In that case Castronovo was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service and attend anger-management classes as part of a diversion agreement.

Email aroemeling@statesmanjoural.com, call (503) 399-6884 or follow on Twitter @alisharoemeling

What's next

Journey drummer Deen Castronovo is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Channing Bennett at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Marion County Courthouse Annex, 4000 Aumsville Highway SE.