The lead singer of Grammy award-winning indie rock band Cage The Elephant has pleaded guilty to gun charges after he was arrested at a swanky New York hotel.
Matt Shultz, 39, entered a guilty plea in Manhattan Supreme Court on Friday.
He was arrested in January after cops found two loaded handguns in his room at the $1,000-a-night Bowery Hotel. Schultz appeared drunk and was unable to explain to the police why he was armed.
The musician's wife, singer and actress Eva Ross, was pictured arriving and exiting court with Shultz, who was wearing a suit and tie.
The clean-cut attire was quite a different look than the one he was sporting when he was seen being escorted out of the city's 9th precinct following his arrest.
Indie rock singer Matt Shultz pleaded guilty to weapons charges in New York on Friday
The 39-year-old showed up at court in New York with his wife, singer and actress Eva Ross
The couple was pictured arriving and exiting Manhattan Supreme Court together
Shultz is seen hugging an unidentified woman outside the New York court
Then, he wore a black puffer jacket with his hood up and was handcuffed behind his back.
Schultz was charged after a Bowery Hotel employee saw him carrying a handgun into a public restroom on the ground floor during his stay as a guest.
Police officers responded a day later, knocking on the door of his room, and Schultz reportedly stepped into the hallway, admitting he had two .45 caliber guns.
When asked if he still had the weapons, the rocker, who police said appeared intoxicated, said he did not know, prompting his arrest.
A judge granted a search warrant allowing police to enter the room, where they discovered two loaded guns, a Sig Sauer and a Smith & Wesson.
Police also found 11 Polaroid photos of the guns including some that showed 'a hand holding, pointing of the firearm.'
Six handwritten notes were also reportedly found, with one reading: ‘I will protect myself if I am attacked.'
He did not have a license for the firearms was charged with felony criminal possession of a firearm.
A hotel employee saw Shultz carrying a handgun into a public bathroom on the ground floor on Wednesday night. He's pictured in custody his in January
Shultz is the lead singer of Grammy-winning rock band Cage The Elephant
Shultz is a musician, songwriter and guitarist for the band which won a Grammy for best rock album in 2016 for 'Tell Me I'm Pretty,' and in 2019 for 'Social Cues'
The day after his arrest, Schultz was taken to Bellevue Hospital because he needed medication, then returned to the stationhouse a few hours later.
He then was freed on $10,000 bail.
Schultz' lawyer claimed the weapons were purchased legally but were not licensed in New York.
Gunowners are not allowed to openly carry a gun anywhere in the state of New York.
The city does not honor gun permits outside of its jurisdiction, including New York State.
A valid City handgun license is required to own a gun, and a City-issued permit is required to own a rifle or shotgun.
Shultz, who is from Nashville, Tennessee, has no prior criminal history.
The rocker married Ross in 2020.
He is a musician, songwriter and guitarist for the band which won a Grammy for best rock album in 2016 for 'Tell Me I'm Pretty,' and in 2019 for 'Social Cues.'
Cage the Elephant is known for its psychedelic sound.
Before starting the band, Schultz worked as a plumber and in a sandwich bar.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWJ%2Bc32UbGhvcV94rqixjH6jnqiYlru1edKipaCdomKaosDTZoqcoKWhwbt5z6WcmpyjYrS2tcutsGafpaN6pLTAq56eq113vLix0bJkgaekmrlurdGrnKysXp3Brrg%3D