EISEN KICKED OUT OF STATIC-X FOR SEX CRIME ALLEGATIONS

Rockers STATIC-X have parted company with guitarist TRIPP EISEN after he was charged with aggravated sexual assault, child endangerment and kidnapping.

The rocker, real name TOD SALVADOR, was arrested by police in New Jersey on Friday (25FEB05) following tips he was sexually assaulting teenagers after meeting them on internet chat sites.

Authorities claim Salvador met one 14-year-old Sayreville girl over the internet and, after exchanging emails with her for two months, visited her and sexually assaulted her in a truck parked in a shopping centre lot.

New Jersey State Police spokesman LT KEVIN REHMANN says authorities are now investigating to see if the guitarist had other young victims.

Rehmann explains, "We've confiscated several computers to examine them to see if there are other victims."

It's not the first time Salvador has been caught up in an underage sex scandal - he was charged with committing a lewd act with a child earlier last month (FEB05) after authorities found him sleeping in a parked car with an underage girl.

In a statement, his former bandmates say, "Static-X has parted ways with guitarist Tripp Eisen, effective immediately. Tripp is currently dealing with personal issues that prohibit him from being able to fulfil his commitment to the band."