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Detroit Musician Sentenced for Child Exploitation

A courtroom scene illustrating the serious nature of child exploitation cases.

News Summary

Evan Mercer, keyboardist for Detroit band Mac Saturn, received a 15-year prison sentence for sexually exploiting an underage girl. Following a plea agreement, his actions were deemed severe, leading to severe condemnation from prosecutors. Mercer was arrested prior to a performance and was later found with multiple incriminating pieces of evidence regarding his actions. The band has since distanced itself from Mercer, expressing support for victim assistance initiatives.

Detroit – Evan Mercer, the 31-year-old keyboardist for the Detroit rock band Mac Saturn, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for the sexual exploitation of an underage girl. U.S. District Judge Terrence Berg imposed the sentence on May 8, 2025, following a plea agreement in which Mercer pleaded guilty to one charge of child sexual exploitation.

Prosecutors had requested a 30-year sentence for Mercer, labeling his actions as “callous and depraved.” They detailed how he manipulated minors as young as seven into performing sexual acts during online sessions. In a contrasting defense, Mercer’s attorney argued for the mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years, claiming that Mercer showed remorse and did not view himself as a predator.

Since his arrest on January 26, 2024, Mercer has been incarcerated without bond. He admitted to exploiting the underage girl approximately six months prior to his sentencing. Originally, he faced a range of multiple charges including possession of child pornography and coercion and enticement of minors before ultimately pleading guilty to sexual exploitation of a child.

The situation began when Mercer was apprehended just hours before a planned performance at The Fillmore Detroit. Following his arrest, Mac Saturn promptly severed ties with Mercer and canceled a national tour consisting of 35 shows.

Mercer’s arrest was triggered when incriminating evidence was uncovered by his former girlfriend, who discovered dubious screenshots of him engaging with children on the video chat platform, Omegle. The investigation conducted by the FBI revealed further evidence on a shared device, including screenshots and videos showing Mercer involved in sexual acts with multiple minors.

Investigators stated that Mercer was observed on video engaging in sexual acts with a 7- to 9-year-old girl and two teen boys aged 14 and 15 during online video chats. In light of these findings, prosecutors emphasized the grave nature of the crimes, arguing that they inflicted considerable harm on the victims and violated their innocence.

According to Mercer’s defense attorney, he is not a malicious individual and comes from a supportive family that attests to his positive attributes. However, prosecutors painted a different picture, highlighting that his actions amounted to deep psychological trauma for the victims.

As part of the plea agreement, other charges against Mercer were dismissed. He was sentenced to 180 months in prison, followed by five years of supervised release. No restitution was ordered, as the identities of the victims have not yet been established.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Berg noted that 180 months is “a very long sentence,” further underlining the seriousness surrounding the nature of the crimes. The prosecution continued to assert that Mercer’s behavior wreaked havoc on multiple innocent lives, likening his actions to ongoing exploitation of children.

In response to the unfolding situation, Mac Saturn expressed their shock and remorse, stating that they would support victim assistance initiatives through donations to organizations focused on assisting victims of similar circumstances.