JESSE, the vocalist of the rock bands RIZE and The BONEZ and the son of the guitarist Char, was arrested on November 4 on suspicion of using cocaine, violating the Narcotics and Psychotropics Control Act. Prosecutors identified him as Jesse McFaddin Solato, 46.
News of the arrest emerged on November 7. Investigators say he used a small amount of cocaine in Tokyo or its surroundings, and that a urine test came back positive. It is not clear how the test came about.
The Metropolitan Police Department had been tracking him before the arrest. A public safety reporter said police had him under investigation and had carried out surveillance at least since the start of this year.
A promise in court seven years ago
The arrest is not his first on drug allegations. On July 19, 2019, officers from the Metropolitan Police Department's organized crime division arrested him at his home in Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo, on suspicion of possessing cannabis. He was later also charged with possessing cocaine, and the bands stopped performing.
He was indicted on August 9 that year and released from Tokyo Bay Coast police station on August 14 after posting bail of 2.5 million yen. He admitted the charges at his first hearing on October 8.
Prosecutors said he had used cannabis for about 20 years and argued he had an affinity for drugs. He apologized to his family, his bandmates and his fans and said he would not use drugs again. He also said he wanted to return to music as soon as possible.
“I want to get back to work as soon as possible.”JESSE, in the Tokyo District Court, defendant
Prosecutors sought two years in prison. The defense asked for a suspended sentence. On October 29, the Tokyo District Court sentenced him to two years in prison, suspended for three years.
The court found he had possessed about 2.42 grams of cannabis and about 0.09 grams of cocaine for his own use. It took into account that he had no previous convictions and had shown remorse.
Fans responded to the news of the second arrest with a weary "again?" The question now is what seven years have meant since the promise he made in that courtroom.