Piano man

Eric Rosser, formerly with John Mellencamp's band, is charged with producing and selling child porn.

Published January 16, 2001 8:26PM (EST)

Law enforcement agencies in Bangkok, Thailand, and the surrounding area are no doubt frequenting music clubs more often this month. Among other suspicious activities, the authorities might well be listening for the songs of musician John Mellencamp.

Their target is Eric Franklin Rosser, Mellencamp's former piano player, who has been indicted for allegedly producing and distributing kiddie porn. Two weeks ago his name was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.

The 48-year-old Rosser is currently an international fugitive, running from child porn charges in both the U.S. and Thailand. Last March he was indicted by a federal grand jury in Indianapolis on felony counts of producing sexual videos involving three girls between the ages of 9 and 11. According to the indictment, two of the girls were from Indiana and the third was from Thailand. Rosser faces 15 years in prison and fines up to $1 million.

Charges against Rosser in Thailand include child molestation, and possession and production of child pornography. Thai authorities actually had Rosser in custody at one time, but he jumped bond and is currently at large. Rosser was no stranger to Thailand, having lived in Bangkok, where he ran a music school for kids.

Rosser's work on the Mellencamp oeuvre included the 1980 album "Nothin' Matters and What If It Did." He now joins the ranks of notorious FBI fugitives including terrorist Osama bin Laden.

U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno announced at a press conference the Rosser case was the first time a child-porn suspect has made the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.


By Jack Boulware

Jack Boulware is a writer in San Francisco and author of "San Francisco Bizarro" and "Sex American Style."

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