Music festival defends hiring registered sex offender to play in North Carolina. Why?

Alison Cutler
·2 min read

A historic music festival in North Carolina is standing firm in its decision to hire a registered sex offender to play, even after getting pressure from the community to ban the performer.

Artimus Pyle will take the stage at the Historic Morganton Festival in September. He is the former drummer for Lynyrd Skynyrd and leads his current band, which bears his name.

He is also a registered sex offender in North Carolina, according to the state’s sex offender database.

Pyle’s sex offender status raised concerns and outright disapproval from some members of the community, who launched a petition addressed to the Morganton City Council opposing his invitation to the festival. Over 400 people have signed it as of May 25.

“The Historic Morganton Festival has decided that he is the perfect performer to headline a storied 30-year family-focused festival this fall in Morganton, NC,” the petition says. “Please help us spread the message that this is not welcome in our community!”

Pyle was convicted of sexual crimes in 1993, according to state records. McClatchy News reached out to the Artimus Pyle Band for comment and is waiting on a response.

He pleaded guilty to attempted capital battery and lewd and lascivious assault in the presence of a child, according to a news release from the Historic Morganton Festival. After his conviction, Pyle served 8 years probation and no jail time.

“The fact that you are OK putting a sex offender up in front of your own town to represent you speaks volumes,” one commenter wrote to the festival on Facebook. “I am ashamed of this and myself nor any of my family will take part in anything you have from now on. Be an advocate for the children.”

According to the festival, Pyle never had any inappropriate incidents during recent concerts or fan events, and the performer was fully transparent with the board about his past.

Pyle was arrested in 2007 after failing to register as a sex offender with the state of North Carolina when he moved to Asheville, WWAY reported.

“The Historic Morganton Festival, Inc. Board and the Executive Director are comfortable with the decision made to hire the band and look forward to having a true rock legend perform at the festival,” the release ended.

Pyle is scheduled to play on Sept. 10, according to the festival.

Morganton is about 76 miles northwest of Charlotte.

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