Megadeth bassist David Ellefson has filed a report with the Scottsdale Police Department alleging unlawful distribution of images by unknown offenders who posted sexually explicit images of Ellefson online.

The resulting scrutiny of those images on social media accusing the bassist of sexual exploitation of a minor resulted in Megadeth cutting ties with Ellefson, a founding member.

In a statement credited to singer Dave Mustaine, Megadeth announced on social media on May 24 that the thrash metal band had parted ways with Ellefson, who lives in Scottsdale. This statement came in the wake of that online scrutiny, in which the bassist was accused of grooming an underage girl through videos and online messages.

Ellefson has met with Scottsdale police

Ellefson and his lawyer, David Cantor, met with two detectives on May 26.

The bassist shared a photo of the driver’s license of the woman he’s accused of grooming with Scottsdale Police.

According to the police report, the person would have been 19 at the time of their first virtual sexual encounter.

Ellefson told the police he first became aware of the situation on May 9 when he received a text from a person whose identity the police have not released advising him of an email that person had sent him regarding an internet matter.

Ellefson learned that an Instagram user had posted “David Ellefson of Megadeth is a pedophile” on Instagram.

Ellefson told police he contacted Megadeth management, who told him they have had problems with that Instagram user in the past harassing other members of the band. The bassist says he was advised to “not do anything and sit tight” because it would probably “blow over.”

By later that night, the social media post had spread widely on both Instagram and Twitter.

Two hours after Ellefson first learned of the situation, the Instagram user posted a video of Ellefson masturbating.

Related reading: David Ellefson responds to firing over allegations of sexual misconduct

Ellefson said the video was taken without his consent

Ellefson told police the video was taken without his knowledge or consent using the video feature on Facebook Messenger by the woman,   whom he met while signing autographs at a merchandise booth in the Netherlands.

Ellefson told police that when he contacted  the woman by telephone, she admitted to having made two or three videos on FB Messenger and sharing with some friends but wasn’t sure how they got leaked to others.

Ellefson told police she was remorseful and agreed to post a statement on her Instagram account that she had been a willing, consenting adult at the time of their virtual sexual encounter.

Ellefson copied her Instagram statement and posted it on his Instagram account stating that the accusations were false.

Megadeth cut ties with Ellefson last month

Ellefson told police he was notified on May 14 by Megadeth that the band would be dismissing him. He contacted his lawyer that same day and agreed to submit to a polygraph examination.

Three days later, he was fired.

Megadeth shared the news on social media in a statement credited to Mustaine.

“We are informing our fans that David Ellefson is no longer playing with Megadeth and that we are officially parting ways with him,” he wrote. “We do not take this decision lightly.”

Mustaine went on to write, “While we do not know every detail of what occurred, with an already strained relationship, what has already been revealed now is enough to make working together impossible moving forward. We look forward to seeing our fans on the road this summer, and we cannot wait to share our brand new music with the world.”

Ellefson responded to The Republic’s requests for comment with a statement released through his attorneys.

“Recently, a very private video was illegally posted on the internet and false allegations were made against me,” the statement read.

“The actions in the video were between two consenting adults and were recorded without my knowledge. I am working with Scottsdale Police Department in their investigation into charges regarding revenge pornography to be filed against the person who posted this video.”

The statement also said the bassist’s lawyers were preparing a defamation lawsuit to be filed against that person, who “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Allegations are damaging Ellefson’s family, reputation and career

Ellefson told police the “malicious allegations” against him are destroying him, his family, his reputation and his career.

The bassist said he first met  the woman in 2019 while signing autographs. They struck up a friendship and started talking on social media. The second time he saw her in person was in February 2020, again in the Netherlands, where they met in a hotel lobby for coffee and soda.

Ellefson told police there has never been any physical sexual contact between them and the first time they engaged in “a consensual virtual sexual encounter” was in July or August 2020. The bassist said they had approximately four or five such encounters, the last one being around February 2021.

Ellefson told police he doesn’t believe the woman is the originator of the social media posts alleging sexual exploitation.

Ellefson’s lawyer provided police with a copy of the bassist’s polygraph examination.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4495. Follow him on Twitter @EdMasley.

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